What do you do with all of your extra stuff? I
have always felt, while other developing countries struggle to obtain
some basic needs, American’s are challenged with the opposite: how to
get away from all the stuff that we accumulate in order to live a more
simple life, free of clutter. I must admit, I
even have a draw in my kitchen named the “odds and end drawer”
designated to stuff that doesn’t really have a place to go. One
of the simplest and most effective steps one can do for the green
movement, that is, even more valuable than recycling, is RE-USING,
finding a new purpose for the item you no longer need to transform it
somehow into something that serves you. An old door can be used as a tabletop or a headboard. Left over tiles can be made into decorative stepping-stones, use salvaged windows to make a small green house. It takes a bit of creativity, but is also very rewarding. And
this is why, in the spirit of Reusing, EcoSpaces Green Building Design
Showroom is having a RE-PURPOSE art show that has inspired artists to
create art for art sake with green building material extras.
Mosaic artists, sculptors, art teachers, jewelry makers and kids have pillaged a mountain of outdated samples. Cut-offs,
already made from recycled materials such as glass countertops,
beautiful exotic cork and bamboo flooring samples, recycled porcelain
tiles and hand died silk fabrics, were taken back to studios and given
yet another life as art. “We are constantly being exposed to the latest and greatest green building materials. And, therefore, we have gathered an excess of beautiful samples that we no longer need.” Says Joanna Kanow, founder or EcoSpaces. “We
also wanted an excuse to throw a party to celebrate three years in
business serving the community by supplying sustainable green building
materials to architects, contractors and home owners and new greener
building in our area.” Local artists of all ages will be displaying
mosaics, sculptures, elaborate hot plates, window coverings, mobile, Zen
floor mats, hard wood boxes, recycled class and concrete planters, and
more. There will be a silent auction for most of
the student art, to raise money for the Telluride School Art Department
in order to purchase more supplies to make art. Prizes
from EcoCleaners, The Garden Store, Cindy Bread, China Rose Tomboy
Coffee and Counter Culture will be awarded for: most functional, most
recycled, most original and other door prizes for those attending this
reception. The RePurpose art show takes place Thursday, September 23, at 4:00pm at the EcoSpaces Green Building Design showroom in Lawson Hill Business Center. Call 970-728-1973 for more info.

