It’s that time of year again when everyone is wrapped up in holiday shopping and the joys of giving and receiving. Elaborate giftwrap and packaging is pleasing to the eye and impresses friends and neighbors, but who has time to think about what happens to ribbons, wrapping paper and tissue paper come Dec. 26? Research indicates that Americans create up to 4 million tons of extra waste during the holiday season. The Community Arts Center hopes to make a dent in that figure, at least here in Danville, with a holiday recycling drive Dec. 26 through 28.
Items being accepted include wrapping paper, tissue, Kraft and packaging paper, plastic shopping bags, bows and ribbons. These materials will be used in our 2014 “Re” exhibit, encouraging the greater community to rethink recycling through recycled and repurposed art. We want you to expand your thinking beyond “reduce, reuse, recycle†and now “recreate, repurpose and reimagine†the leftover and found materials in our everyday lives into something beautiful or amazing!
Staff and volunteers have already created hyacinths, dahlias, carnations and roses that are decorating the Arts Center now.
“The nice thing about wrapping paper is that it’s obvious what it is just by looking at it because of the patterns on it, so when we turn it into flowers, it is clear to someone looking at it that it was repurposed,†says our education director, Lindsay. “It’s important to us that people can see that parts of the exhibit were once something different that we reimagined into a new purpose. I hope it can inspire people to look at the waste they produce in a different light — rather than throwing tissue paper away, I want them to be able to visualize it as a pretty flower instead.â€
We’re turning the Grand Hall into a grand garden full of these flowers. The garden will also include vegetables made from newspaper, tissue paper, plastic bags and plastic bottles; insects created from plastic bottles, corks, plastic containers and tubing; and animals of chicken wire, plastic lids, duct tape, cardboard tubes and crocheted plastic yarn. Artist in Residence Mark Wilhelm is constructing a six-foot-tall bear and other creatures from cardboard and papier mache.
“Re†opens Feb. 5 at the Arts Center. To volunteer in advance of the exhibit as a crafter or during the exhibit as a field trip guide, call 859-236-4054 or email carrie@communityartscenter.net.
IF YOU GO
Holiday Recycling Drive
Thursday, Dec. 26 through Saturday, Dec. 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Community Arts Center
401 W. Main St.
ONGOING
On exhibit: Trees and Trains of the Season
Through Saturday, Dec. 28
Wednesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
GoodGiving Guide Challenge
This holiday season, donate to the Arts Center online at www.goodgivingguide.net/communityartscenter. Gifts will be matched by the Boyle County Community Fund, donors are eligible for prizes from community partners. Additionally, every $10 donated through 11:59 p.m. Dec. 31 earns the donor a chance to win a private party Starry Night Studio for up to 10 people!
