Ask an Olympia Dumpster Diver for illumination

Question: Since you are the queen of recycled art, can you tell me what is the general-accepted definition of recycled materials? I have lots of reject copper pieces originally made for my lights that are sitting in a heap. They are unusable for my lights. If I use them in an art piece, could that be considered “recycled” art? Thanks, Bella Luz

Answer: The definition of “recycled” when it comes to recycled art varies … Ruby Re-Usable tends to be liberal when defining it, i.e, pre- and post- consumer waste, stuff that was unwanted, heading for the dumpster, etc. It does not have to be dirty, rusty, icky, picked out of the gutter or primitive-looking (not that there is anything wrong with that). I look for artists and art work that exude a spirit of recycled art through creative re-use.

Painting over an old canvas to create a new painting does not constitute recycled art, although it is an example of recycling. However, your reject copper pieces could be on the continuum of recycled art, depending on the final product and what else you have used. Also, your artist’s statement could sway the jury. But it sounds like what you are describing is recycling, not creating recycled art.

Most recycled art shows want to showcase art that is made from materials that have had a previous life and have little value and would be considered garbage or litter. Melting old, used gold jewelry to create new gold jewelry would not cut it in my book, but melting old, used aluminum cans, especially ones picked up off the street, to create something, would, even though aluminum cans are valuable and there is a healthy market for recycling them back into more aluminum cans (more info HERE).

Tree Hugger questions the use of aluminum cans in recycled art as a means to encourage recycling, but we here at Olympia Dumpster Divers believe making art from recycled materials, while not the ultimate solution to saving the world’s waste problems, is an important part of the reduce/reuse/recycle process.

I frown on items purchased new from the hardware or kitchen store that insinuate recycling (but the artists did not want to get their hands dirty or were too busy to actually take the time and effort to collect materials). Some jurors will not even accept items purchased at Goodwill or garage sales; they feel that the artists should have a personal relationship to the junk that they use. Making wallets and other stuff from duct tape, while amusing, is not recycling, unless one is using USED duct tape (never have seen examples of that). Making things from polar fleece yardage is not recycled art, even though polar fleece is a material made from recycled plastic bottles. However, making things from polar fleece scraps, especially industrial scraps that still have the pieces of pattern stuck to them, is recycled art/craft, as is making quilts from scraps. New bottle caps purchased at the beer-making supply store are not recycled materials; used bottle caps collected by bartenders or other means are recycled materials. The list goes on and on.

And there is also the question of the ART in recycled art … but that is another topic for another post!

love, etc Ruby ps read ODD’s recycled art statement HERE for more info