Community Clicks
"Future Date" by Mary Marsh is an example of art that will be on display during the Recycled Art Show made from old computer parts, old electronic parts, discarded scrap metals and plastic.
Artists across the North Olympic Peninsula are being asked to stretch their imaginations and clean out their garages and attics to create masterpieces for the Museum & Arts Center’s Recycled Art Show.
The show will open Tuesday, March 30 and close Saturday, May, 1.
“The show is inspired by the 40th anniversary of Earth Day,” said Linda Stadtmiller, exhibit chairwoman and member of the museum’s board of directors.
“The museum wanted to do something to join the City of Sequim’s Earth Day celebration and an open show featuring recycled art fit perfectly with the Earth Day message.”
Stadtmiller said any person 18 years of age or older can enter up to three pieces in the show.
“We welcome anyone who creates something using recycled or found materials to enter the show,” she said.
Qualifying art must use recycled materials.
Examples of recycled materials include papers, metals, old artwork, fabric scraps and wood or any object that is not being used for its original purpose and any object that has been altered artistically.
It can include, but is not limited to, watercolor, oils, pastels, acrylics, collage, assemblage, fibers and three-dimensional works.
“Recycled art can be more than just nuts, bolts and screws,” Stadtmiller said.
“It can be as simple as painting over an old canvas and using recycled frames and matting. The sky is the limit.”
“We purposely kept the entry fee for the show low to encourage professional and amateur artists to submit pieces.”
An entry fee of $5 for Museum & Arts Center members and $10 for nonmembers will be charged for up to three pieces of art.
Applications to participate in the show are now available at the Museum & Arts Center, 175 W. Cedar St., and by clicking on www.macsequim.org.
Museum officials will receive pieces and make final selections for the show between 10 a.m. and
1 p.m. Monday, March 29, at the museum.
Stadtmiller said most pieces submitted will be accepted into the show.
“We want this to be a community exhibit and want to show how many different ways there are to express yourself using recycled materials,” she said.
“If the piece is appropriate and uses the guidelines outlined on the application it will likely be selected for the show.”
An artists’ reception will be held at the museum between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Friday, April 2.
The reception is part of First Friday Art Walk Sequim, which is a free, self-guided tour of local art galleries, artists’ studios, the Museum & Arts Center and alternative art venues in Sequim on the first Friday of every month from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“We encourage artists selected for the show to attend the reception and talk to the public about their art,” Stadtmiller said.
People who visit the museum will have a chance to vote for their favorite piece of recycled art.
A People’s Choice award will be given following the tallying of votes at the end of the show.
The artist selected will receive a certificate and a small cash award.
Show attendees will also have a chance to purchase select pieces included in the exhibit.
“Some of the pieces we have seen are truly amazing,” Stadtmiller said.
“The fact that artists are using recycled materials is a bonus.
“When you purchase art from the show, you are supporting local artists and purchasing something that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill.”
Promoting recycling is not new at the Museum & Arts Center.
“Museum staff recycle whenever possible and constantly look for ways to promote recycling,” Stadtmiller said.
Displays at the museum were recycled whenever possible during the recent remodel.
“We try to use recycled promotional materials and reuse items,” Stadtmiller said.
“I hope this show will inspire people to take another look at just what can be recycled.”
For more information about the Recycled Art Show, phone Stadtmiller at 360-681-4884 or e-mail lastadtmiller@tfon.com.
