Marita Dingus – Ruby Re-Usable

More Marita in March

Olympia Dumpster Divers blog was originally started in July 2006 as a way to document Ruby Re-Usable’s HERE TODAY temporary art installation, although lately it seems like all Marita Dingus all the time, but I am sure you don’t mind, because Marita is so inspiring in the fearless way she recombines a myriad of recycled materials to create figures that resonate with cultural, historical, political and environmental issues. So this month, we will be posting about Marita once again.

*The Gathering* by Marita Dingus at Traver Gallery

Marita Dingus’ show “The Gathering” is at Traver Gallery, March 2- April 1, 2017 (more pics HERE and HERE).

“In her mixed media figurative sculptures, Dingus, to communicate her narratives, uses almost exclusively, recovered and found material as the medium for her sculptures, creating harmonious results from shattered pieces and discarded materials.

In her exhibition, Marita Dingus commemorates how humans continue to call upon the spirit world for help and guidance in conducting their affairs, especially in times of elevated threat and uncertainty. This show is inspired by Marita’s love of the nkondi sculptures of the Kongo people, which were used as spiritual enforcers of conflict resolutions. The Gathering represents the duality of people seeking spiritual support outside themselves when in fact the spiritual strength comes from within. Gathering is also a process of passing along to the next generation the skill to draw upon our inner strengths.” via Traver Gallery

This past Saturday Marita invited me to hang out with her and Lynn Di Nino at their wearable art sale at Dan Fear’s art studio in Tacoma, so I brought along my Singer 201k hand crank sewing machine for Marita to try out — she has several electric Singer 201 sewing machines and was skeptical about hand cranks, but was so impressed by the smoothness of the crank, the well-designed case, the portability and the practicality of it (when the power goes out, as it tends to do here in our part of the Pacific Northwest, a hand crank &/or a treadle is a useful sewing machine to have) — she totally fell in love with it and wants one now!

ps Marita introduced me to the glue gun back in 1986; more recently she is one of the people who has sparked my passion for vintage sewing machines.

Truth B Told art exhibit includes Marita Dingus

Ruby Re-Usable and Jane Junkton attended the opening of this show back in January, but there is still time to view the more than 160 paintings, sculpture, photography, mixed-media, video, and 3-dimensional installations by more than 50 Pacific Northwest artists of African descent in the ONYX Fine Arts Truth B Told art exhibit at the King Street Station gallery in Seattle — show runs until until February 18, 2017.

Marita Dingus with her piece, *Gathering the Spirits*, at *Truth B Told* ONYX Fine Arts Opening

There isn’t a whole lot of art from recycled materials in the exhibit, but we did get to see our friend and Recycle Art Goddess Marita Dingus‘ latest piece, Gathering the Spirits, an impressive trio of figures made mostly out of repurposed metal scraps that are embellished with various plastic pieces (including black plastic mesh scraps left over from our ill-fated McClure Middle School recycled art installation — more info about that HERE). Marita first created a solitary figure similar to this trio for the Bellevue Art Museum’s 4th Biennial, Metalmorphosis, which focused on the medium of metal; we look forward to see more of these figures. More info about Marita Dingus and Truth B Told exhibit HERE and HERE and HERE

***Gathering the Spirits* by Marita Dingus at ONYX Fine Arts exhibit *Truth B Told***

Marita Dingus: “Hanging from the Rafters” at BIMA

It is always amazing and inspiring to see what Marita Dingus is up to in her studio; last summer, I got a sneak preview of the 27 foot figure she was creating for the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art:

Marita Dingus work-in-progress 27 foot figure for BIMA

Finally got to see the finished piece installed in the entry window of Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, where it will remain on display through this summer.

detail of Marita Dingus installation at BIMA

Fun to get close to her work and wonder “what IS that?” and marvel at how she utilizes such disparate objects and shapes to create such an awesome whole.

Marita Dingus installation at BIMA photo by Robert Wade — Marita Dingus installation at BIMA , photo by **Robert Wade**

Trashoween 2015

This is my latest self-portrait, made from discarded coat hanger wire, thrift store stuff, a popsicle stick, fabric scrap, paper bag, cardboard, and plaster gauze:

I started doing these Day of the Dead inspired skeletons in 2009, when my younger son was a student at the local public alternative high school and I volunteered to do a 4-day art workshop for the mini-unit session. The students watched and discussed a video about Dia de los Muertos, and then had a choice as to who their skeleton would represent: a deceased ancestor, an archetype, a celebrity or historical figure, or, this being an art class, a self-portrait. What I was surprised to discover was how the act of creating these figurines became a cathartic experience for some of the participants.

Avanti High School '09 Day of the Dead project — **Avanti High School ’09 Day of the Dead project**

For the past 5 years, I have been presenting a shorter version of this workshop at the local community college, the libraries, and some middle schools. Instead of using coat hanger wire, cardboard tubes, and paint, we use chenille stems, card stock, and markers; fabric scraps and other junk are used for both versions. More pics on flickr HERE

Day of the Dead figurines by Ruby Re-Usable

A friend sent a pic of a plastic jug skeleton that is currently hanging up on his street. While I admire skeletons made from plastic jugs, I have never actually made one. My friend Marita has made them (they were shown at the now defunct Francine Seders Gallery), and one year she gave me one; it hangs in my house all year round.

plastic jug skeleton in tree — plastic jug skeleton 17th Av SE

plastic jug skeleton by Marita Dingus — plastic jug skeleton by **Marita Dingus**

While searching for instructions on how to make a plastic jug skeleton, I came across this skeleton made from plastic cutlery and other white plastic things by Elliott Mariess

Skeleton imagery reminds us of our own mortality. And while our bodies will eventually decompose, plastics are like the undead — although it does degrade, plastic does not die or decompose. So I consider the “Waste Skeleton” a scary reminder of how plastics are unhealthy for humans. BOO!

See past ODD Trashoween posts HERE

Rubbish & Recycling artists: Marita Dingus and Joshua Sofaer

SO! Olympia Dumpster Divers turned 9 years old this week; the official start date of this blog was July 13, which just happens to be our friend Marita’s birthday. Marita Dingus remains the Queen of Art from Recycled Materials here in the Pacific Northwest, where she continues to exhilarate us with her unique ways of making art with the stuff other folks throw away.

Ruby's discarded venetian blind slats are incorporated into Marita's latest project — Ruby’s surplus venetian blind slats are incorporated into Marita’s latest project

Marita is also a docent for the Seattle Art Museum, currently leading tours of the Disguise: Masks and Global African Art exhibit. This past Wednesday, Ruby, along with artist Kelly Lyles, had the privilege of being part of the public tour lead by Marita, which was an insightful and informative experience, since Marita is truly passionate about art and Africa. Unbeknownst to us all, there was another interesting artist in this tour — Kelly found out later when she attended his lecture at SAM that evening and recognized Joshua Sofaer as the Englishman who was asking questions during the tour that afternoon. Ruby totally regrets not being able to attend his talk, but is excited to learn more about his work.

work-in-progress: chicken coop with spheres by Marita Dingus

Joshua Sofaer is a UK based artist involved in socially engaged art that includes elements of performance, collaboration, and public participation, often with an irreverent sense of humor. He was in town to speak about his recent project, “The Rubbish Collection,” a one month long exhibit/exploration of the quantity, quality, and aesthetics of what was discarded by the Science Museum of London, questioning what we throw away verses what we keep.

The Rubbish Collection, Phase 1: Documentation by Joshua Sofaer

“I want to use art to enable people to see the world as a place of potentiality and to become more active citizens.” Joshua Sofaer

We look forward to reading more about Joshua Sofaer (and hope that our paths will cross again someday), seeing Marita Dingus’ next installation, (which will be at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art — stay tuned), and, of course, posting more often about Ruby Re-Usable’s art from recycled materials and the myriad of art and artists that inspire Olympia Dumpster Divers to MAKE ART NOT WASTE!

Last Chance to See Two Trashtastic Art Shows

There are two excellent group exhibits here in the Pacific Northwest that showcase art from recycled materials, and both are ending soon:

Saving the Environment: Sustainable Art exhibit at the Schack Art Center in Everett (April 23 – May 30, 2015) is an ambitious group show that spans a wide range of ways that artists work with recycled materials.

Ruby Re-Usable sitting next to her plastic bag and tape sculpture, Mother and Child/Plastic Is Not Healthy for Babies and Other Living Things — artist Ruby Re-Usable sitting next to her plastic bag and tape sculpture entitled “Mother and Child/Plastic Is Not Healthy for Babies and Other Living Things” in Saving the Environment: Sustainable Art at Schack Art Center

The list of participating artists includes lots of our favorite artist who work with recycled materials: Staci Adman, Sarah Allen, Dona Anderson, Jules Anslow, Jim Arrabito, Ross Palmer Beecher, Aline Bloch, Mary Ellen Bowers, Eric Brown, Susan Brendon, Jody Cain, Alana Coleman, Barbara De Pirro, Lynn DiNino, Marita Dingus, Amy Duncan, Claire Farabee, Roxy Gesler, Stuart Gullstrand, Julia Haack, Karen Hackenberg, Terra Holcomb, Katherine Holzknecht, Jan Hopkins, Susie Howell, Wendy Huhn, Peggy Hunt, Gay Jensen, Gale Johansen, Kristol Jones, Diane Kurzyna aka Ruby Re-Usable, Alice Larson, Stephen Lestat, Lucy Mae Martin, Danny Mangold, Lin McJunkin, Russ Morgan, Randy Morris, Thor Myhre, Keith Pace, Evan Peterson, Stan Price, Rainere Rainere, Lisa Rhoades, Joe Rossanno, Graham Schodda, Britni Jade Smith, Victoria & Ron Smith, Denise Snyder, Christine Stoll, Pat Tassoni, Joe Walker, Sylvia White, Laurie Williams, Heather Wilson, Tonnie Wolfe, Monica Ann Guerrero Yocom, and more

More pics HERE

Also check out this installation by Barbara De Pirro and Joe Walker at the show:

The other show that is happening right now is Cut & Bent: Group Exhibition at Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, an awesome tin/metal art group show with Ross Palmer Beecher, Jenny Fillius, Nia Michaels, Deborah Paul, Kathy Ross, Loran Scruggs, and Nan Wonderly — ends June 7, 2015.

artist Jenny Fillius in Cut and Bent at BIMA

Jenny Fillius with BIMA’s curator Greg Robinson podcast

More pics HERE

“The Girls” by Marita Dingus

Marita Dingus‘ latest art exhibit, The Girls, is at Traver Gallery until March 28. Marita continues her fearless exploration of recycled materials in this fierce display of female figures of the African Diaspora that range in size from 6 1/2 inches to 6 1/2 feet tall.

Marita Dingus at Traver Gallery 2015 NIGERIAN GIRLS, edition of 100 (detail) — Marita Dingus at Traver Gallery 2015
NIGERIAN GIRLS, edition of 100 (detail)

It is always intriguing to discover what discards she has incorporated into her pieces, especially when she points out “look what I did with those green plastic things you gave me,” because I, along with most of her friends and fans, contribute to her collection of interesting junk supplies. In this case, the Olympia Library had given me a big box of empty spools from receipt paper; after ten years, I finally decided that I wasn’t going to use them in my work and passed them on to Marita, who always seems to find something to do with the stuff everyone else wants to throw away.

Marita Dingus with "Big Sister" at Traver Gallery 2015 — Marita Dingus with “Big Sister” at Traver Gallery 2015

More pics of The Girls — Marita Dingus art exhibit at Traver Gallery HERE and HERE and HERE

More Marita Dingus at Northwest African American Museum

Teacups and friends photo by Spike Mafford — *Teacups and Friends from Marita Dingus: At Home* photo by Spike Mafford

We went up to Seattle the other week with our friend and idol, the Queen of the recycled art scene, Marita Dingus, to see her latest exhibit at the Northwest African American Museum. The exhibition, entitled Marita Dingus: At Home, includes the baskets, quilts, and dolls made from a myriad of recycled materials that were once formerly shown at Francine Seders Gallery, with photos by Spike Mafford of how these objects look in Marita’s home studio, where they are casually combined with her doll collection, outside in her goat pen, or being utilized to hold art supplies. The show is up until May 26, 2014. More Marita Dingus HERE and HERE and HERE, more pics of this show HERE

SUSTAINING: group art show

We are so honored to be part of this environmentally-themed group art show:

SUSTAINING

opening on April 3 for downtown Seattle’s First Thursday Art Walk, 6 pm – 8 pm, at Abmeyer + Wood (right across the street from Seattle Art Museum).

Some of the artists in this exhibit are names you should be familiar with: Marita Dingus, Steve Jensen, and Ruby Re-Usable, along with Alfredo Arreguin, Matthew Dennison, Karen Hackenberg, Gaylen Hansen, Meg Holgate, Holly Lyman, Lynda Lowe, Ann Mallory, William Morris, Annie Marie Musselman, Catherine Eaton Skinner, Raven Skyriver, Rob Snyder, Phil Stoiber, Jason Walker, Melissa Weinman, and Suze Woolf. We are looking forward to meeting these artists/making new friends/seeing new ways to “Make Art Not Waste” and otherwise promote eco-art issues.

The Facebook invitation is HERE. Speaking of Facebook, have you “liked” Ruby Re-Usable yet? Find me on Twitter HERE and Instagram HERE

And if you are ever in Olympia (Washington, USA), stop by and say hey at Matter Gallery (my studio is upstairs)!

Marita Dingus: Trash Fashion, Trash Art, and Trashed Art

Remember back in May when we posted about the mavericks made from recycled materials that the McClure Middle School 7th graders created with Marita Dingus and Ruby Re-Usable? We promised an update when they were installed. Well … it never happened. The finished art work, the artists’ examples and some leftover materials, were all stored in a school portable over the summer, along with surplus computer equipment and other junk. Right before the installation was slated to occur, the unthinkable happened: the rush to transform the portable into a classroom to accommodate the increased enrollment led to the accidental disposal of our horses. Gone. Trashed. While we are disappointed about this unfortunate incident (we were devastated for a while, which is why it took us almost 3 months to post this), we will continue to Make Art, Not Waste! Only now we will be more careful in how it is stored and displayed.

Marita Dingus has not only been busy making art, not waste, she has had 2 exhibitions of her work in Seattle this fall:

Marita Dingus at the NW African American Museum: Fashion-Free-For-All exhibit

At the Northwest African American Museum, you can see Marita Dingus: Fashion Free-For-All (8/17/13 – 1/5/14) in the PACCAR Gallery, and Buddha as an African Enslaved (10/12/13 – 1/12/14) in the Northwest Gallery (more pics HERE).

Beaded Flower Child 1 and 2 Francine Seders Gallery Marita Dingus art opening IMGP9709 — Beaded Flower Child 1 and 2 by Marita Dingus at Francine Seders Gallery

The soon-to-be-retired Francine Seders Gallery had a 4 person show this past month (it closes today), with Jacqueline Barnett, Elizabeth Sandvig, Laura Thorne, and Marita Dingus. We went to the reception on November 10 and took a few pics (more HERE)

The Seattle Art Museum’s permanent collection includes a piece by Marita Dingus

Marita was part of the Inside Art/Why Do We Make Things panel (9/10/13) at Town Hall

Marita will be part of a group show, Equipollent: The Artists of Inside Art 2013, 12/5/13 -12/21/13, at Standing Visits Project

Marita Dingus's exhibit Fashion-Free-For-All at Northwest African Art Museum — Marita Dingus’s exhibit Fashion-Free-For-All at Northwest African Art Museum