A fun and energetic group of educators, artists and a park event coordinator played with vinyl wallcovering, paint samples, wood samples and rubber base samples over two afternoons this spring.  The materials were provided from ZeroLandfill Akron harvests and led by artist and educator, Chris Zielski, in March and artist, Christine Mauersberger, in April.  The program, hosted and organized by the Educational Service Center of Cuyahoga County, was a new collaboration for us that we hope will continue.

The resulting projects were inspiring, providing springboards for lesson plans and projects beyond what you see in the pictures below.

2012 is the year that ZeroLandfill will hit 1 Million pounds.  That is 1 Million pounds of expired specification samples, 2 oz to 5 lb items previously destined for the landfill. That is 1 Million pounds that will weighed, sorted and moved by countless volunteers. AND that is 1 Million pounds of creative materials that will have found their way into the hands of educators, artists and crafters.

February kicked off the year with ZeroLandfill East Tennessee and ZeroLandfill Akron.  They added 25,000 pounds to get us to 673,820.  And it is from here that we kick off April.

Some think of Earth Day in April, I hereby declare it ZeroLandfill month.  We have seven markets that will be hosting ZeroLandfill projects in their community.  Four of these are brand new project sites.  If you are new to ZeroLandfill world, this is a great time of year to jump in and get your feet wet.

ZeroLandfill Austin         Pollination April 16-20 and 23-27, Harvest April 21 and 28

ZeroLandfill Chicago      Pollination April 10 and 14, Harvest April 28 and May 5

ZeroLandfill Denver         Harvest April 20, 27 and May 3

ZeroLandfill Memphis     Pollination April 10 and 20, Harvest April 21 and 28

ZeroLandfill Nashville     Pollination April 20 and 27, Harvest 21 and 28

ZeroLandfill Pittsburgh   Pollination April 13 and 20, Harvest April 15 and 22

ZeroLandfill San Diego    Pollination April 27, Harvest April 28

Join in and participate as Pollinator, Harvester or Volunteer.

I enjoy seeing all of the creative ways that you are using ZeroLandfill materials in your classroom.  Everything from collages and murals to books and sculpture. It is with great delight that I can share a science project.  Louise Robison’s 6th grade science class at Stockyard Community Elementary School on the west side of Cleveland used ZeroLandfill materials for their collages.

The class was studying the water cycle.  As part of the lesson, Louise pulled out all of her fabric and wallcovering samples for the students to use as part of their illustration.  The samples added a textural quality to their work, the students had fun selecting just the right color and pattern for their clouds, water and sky and a subtle lesson in repurposing was learned.

We have partnered with the Education Service Center of Cuyahoga County (Ohio) to present a two part workshop, Making Art from Recycled Materials.  The workshop focuses on book arts.  On March 22, artist and educator, Chris Zielski, will be presenting book projects using wallcovering, paint samples and wood and tile.  On April 17, artist Christine Mauersberger, will be expanding the definition of books using wallcovering and fabric.  These are hands on workshops.  Each participant will have time to create the presented book projects and explore and experiment with materials on their own.

Educators can take the book projects back their classrooms and incorporate into a range of learning activities.  One can be a science log, another a creative writing book, world history and cultural studies notes can fill the third and the fourth can incorporate math concepts.  Each tells the story of reuse, seeing materials in a new light and expanding the definition of book.  Students will find discovery in looking at what was once considered waste in a new way.

Register through ESC before March 22.  We look forward to working with educators from a range of disciplines for this workshop.

We have partnered with the Education Service Center of Cuyahoga County (Ohio) to present a two part workshop, Making Art from Recycled Materials.  The workshop focuses on book arts.  On March 22, artist and educator, Chris Zielski, will be presenting book projects using wallcovering, paint samples and wood and tile.  On April 17, artist Christine Mauersberger, will be expanding the definition of books using wallcovering and fabric.  These are hands on workshops.  Each participant will have time to create the presented book projects and explore and experiment with materials on their own.

Educators can take the book projects back their classrooms and incorporate into a range of learning activities.  One can be a science log, another a creative writing book, world history and cultural studies notes can fill the third and the fourth can incorporate math concepts.  Each tells the story of reuse, seeing materials in a new light and expanding the definition of book.  Students will find discovery in looking at what was once considered waste in a new way.

Register through ESC before March 22.  We look forward to working with educators from a range of disciplines for this workshop.

ZeroLandfill Austin posted a great video recap of R Evolution Runway.  The IIDA Austin City Center held its annual fashion show in September 2011.  The event featured runway fashions that designers partially sourced through ZeroLandfill.

Over 23,000 lbs. of expired specification samples including carpet, fabric, wall cover, tile and paint was upcycled in Austin’s pilot project.  If you are in the Austin, TX area, ZeroLandfill Austin will be holding two events in 2012.  April 21st and 28th and October 20th and 27th.

ZeroLandfill East Tennessee has embraced the honeybee and is creating a buzz.

Educators and artist from the Knoxville community harvested 7,703 lbs. this past Saturday.

They were part of a live broadcast on Thursday, February 16 morning with WBIR, the local Fox affiliate.

The Tennessee Journalist ran an article on Saturday, February 18 on ZeroLandfill and inspiration from UT students.

And they are lighting up their Facebook page with pictures and stories.  Check out the latest post

If you are in the Knoxville, Tennessee area, they have their last Harvest event this Saturday, February 25.

ZeroLandfill(Ed) 3.3 was held this past fall at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.  The group had a great time and made some really great projects.  So, we are hosting it again.  This time in Akron.  ZeroLandfill(Ed)™ 3.3 will be held onsite at ZeroLandfill™ Akron.

This workshop features three materials used in three different projects.  We explore tessellations, books and hand sewing.  You will an opportunity to Harvest at ZeroLandfill and get your creative juices flowing.

Every participant will go home with a CD of lesson plans / instructions, three projects that we have created during the workshop and loads of materials to take back to the classroom and workplace.

Here are the details and registration:

One of the favorite materials that comes into ZeroLandfill is fabric.  The material comes in as 2″ x 2″ samples up to one yard sample cuts.  Fabric goes back out into the community as quickly as it comes in a project sites door.  So the question I have is “What are you creating with it?”

Here is an opportunity to show it to larger community, in a venue during Fiber Philadelphia.  Fiber Philadelphia is an international biennial and regional festival for innovative fiber art.  Venues all over Philly and the surrounding area feature fiber art exhibitions from March through June.  Refuse/re-seen is a exhibition that

…encourages artists working in fiber to become infatuated with the idea of exploring the possibilities of this disposable and disregarded stuff as the basis for this submission.   Our challenge for fiber artists everywhere is to take the most ordinary, non-precious and every day materials and to create the most extraordinary.   The reuse of every conceivable material is already imbedded in the psyches of many working artists today.  This exhibit will require the use of materials which are not durable and are normally considered ephemeral and short lived.

Applications are due on February 25.  Take a look at the prospectus.  Tell us if you are juried into Refuse/re-seen.  We want to highlight your achievements here.

Pop up stores are trending. In a nutshell, pop up stores are temporary shops that aim to sell merchandise or generate buzz and then close up. An internet search points to a growing list of pop-up stores that open for the holidays.  Everything from branded stores with a small storefront to the entrepreneurial artist or crafter with an eye for product to fit a niche.  In Portland, OR, potential retailers compete for the coveted spaces to locate their stores.

In Northeast Ohio, we are enjoying this holiday season with three pop up stores that embrace the talents of the artists and craftspeople of the region.  Items are handmade, quirky, sophisticated and beautiful.

Made in the 216 – An annual event hosted by the Room Service.  A 5 week long holiday shop that features items from 60 Cleveland designers.

Cosmic Bobbins – New to the pop up scene.  This is a delightful space in the front storefront of Tremont West.  Featuring artwork of Dana Depew who repurposes afghans into interesting painted artwork and Cosmic Bobbins bags and accessories.

Collective Upcycle – Everything in this pop up store is created from upcycled materials.  Everything from wine bottle glass used in earrings and necklaces to worm casing compostable ornaments.  I counted 5 artists that sourced their materials at ZeroLandfill.

What all of these pop ups shops share is a celebration of our local creative community.  The artists and craftspeople that create the gifts and accessories that you will find at any of these stores is given a platform for sales.  A space that is curated to focus and highlight their art.  The community has an alternative to big box retailers to spend their money.

A micro-economy is born as well. Nicole McGee from Collective Upcycle shared with me her 2010 holiday shop was open for 5 weeks and had $16,000 in sales. She had a three week run in June of this year that generated $11,000 in sales.  It is worth noting that Collective Upcycle is typically open Thursday – Sunday – a 4 day week.  The sales generated benefit this local economy, validate the work being done and recognize a different way of doing business.

Do you have a Pop Up Store in your city?  Have you spotted ZeroLandfill materials that are being used in unique and diverse ways?