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Art & Education

Art & Education

Art & Reuse

Have you heard the terms Upcycling or Creative Reuse before? Creative Reuse is a great way to get people thinking, talking, and actively doing waste prevention. By creating something from trash, we teach children and adults that art-making doesn’t need to be expensive and that we are already surrounded by an abundance of free materials (resources) to create with. Through creating with reuse items, we learn to problem solve, imagine possibilities, and reconstruct something that has little value into something priceless. The lessons and skills that are learned during the reuse art-making process can be applied toward finding solutions to climate change, environmental sustainability, and other worthy tasks. So let’s start creating!

Creative Reuse Centers

There are two creative reuse centers in Oregon. One is SCRAP PDX and in Eugene, there is MECCA. These centers not only collect discards and waste from businesses and residents, saving them from the solid waste stream, but they also host events and teach classes to get residents excited about resource recovery.

Creative Reuse Art Projects

Apartment Therapy has 49 smart creative reuse ideas that will save you money.
Engaging Projects Aligned with Common Core Standards from Friends of Materials for Artists.

Tuna Can Diorama

You don't need fancy art supplies to make something cool. Dig through your recycling and see what you can upcycle. We used a tuna can, old magazine, glue, and scissors to make this tuna can diorama. What creation can you make? Snap a shot of your work, share it, and tag us on social media. #mcwasteless

Nature Color Wheel

Explore your backyard to create a natural color wheel. How many colors can you find? Can you name everything that you found? Snap a shot and share your photos on social media. Tag us #mcwasteless

Check out our 12 Days of Reuse series

12 Days of Reuse Promo - Scissors and Bottle Cap Pin

Events

Marion County Environmental Services hosts workshops and events to promote creative reuse. Some of the projects we have worked on include:

Trashion

Have you heard of Trashion, the ultimate upcycling activity? Trashion fuses trash and fashion to promote waste-reduction and consumption alternatives through thoughtful use of reuse materials, fashion, and design. Marion County has hosted and sponsored a handful of Trashion exhibits and hopes to participate in more events. If you have ideas or skills that you’d like to put into action, contact Jessica Ramey today!

Salem Puppet Parade
Take to the streets with creative reuse by making a larger than life puppet or mask with the Salem Puppet Parade.

Upcycled Collage Workshop

Create cool collages that are worthy of Free Art Friday! Waste Reduction Coordinator and artist Jessica Ramey leads you to create inspiring pieces of upcycled collages to share with the community. Be ready with scissors, glue, magazines, and cardboard from your recycling bin.

Education

Check out these resources for waste reduction educational materials.