Dumpster Diva

Allison Pinkowski, founder and chief executive of Dumpster Diva, has a love for old things that have a story; she says “The rustier, the better!” She runs a web site, DumpsterDiva.net, as well as a store in Kansas City where she sells art and furniture that she has found and made into her own art. Pinkowski loves to use her creativity to repair items and make them usable again and her mission is to make the “trash” that she finds valuable again. Just because an item has lost value to someone else does not mean it has served it purpose completely yet. Pinkowski finds great pleasure in making old thinks usable again, as well as making them into one-of-a-kind pieces of art. What many people ask her is whether or not she really goes dumpster diving. She says that the dumpster diving is one of the best parts of her job, and that she finds it exciting to see what she can retrieve from her treasure hunt. Because of the dumpster diving, some people might find it disgusting to buy her art, but Pinkowski rejects this in a funny way by stating; “If you find something on this site that you'd like to take home, rest assured it will get a bath before it gets to you!” On Pinkowski’s website you can view some of her recent findings, as well as her own art. 

Here is one of Dumpster Diva's most recent pieces, a chandelier made out of old and discarded silverware. I have to agree with the artist and say that is certainly makes a fun statement! It is great if you want to have an extraordinary piece of art in your home. 

Check out Dumpster Diva's website and blog for more information and fun art! www.dumpsterdiva.net


/Melinda & Blair

Work cited:

Pinkowski, Allison. "Dumpster Diva." Dumpster Diva. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec 2010. <http://www.dumpsterdiva.net/the-diva.html>.

Seeing the Beauty

Hundreds of pelicans, seagulls and other birds of prey fly high over the skyscrapers of downtown San Francisco searching for the next big catch. Recently, artists have taken to this way of scavenging, searching for parts they can use to create something that is destined to be anything but trash. Eric Otto, an artist who is very involved here in San Francisco, is always on the lookout for usable parts.  Even though he may have never actually dived into a dumpster, his stint at Recology required him to catapult into an entire dump. However, just throwing a whole bunch of scraps of trash together does not qualify as art.  Finding just the right piece is an art in itself and requires a trained eye, but the rewards are great. When asked what he likes best about recycled materials, Eric Otto replied, “First the obvious...there's tons of it if you learn where to look. Secondly, it usually contains unique qualities and imperfections that create a sense of history and past that I like to collaborate with. And lastly, working with materials that will never be perfect, opens the door to improvisation that translates into a sense of discovery when making the art… That or complete disaster.” The recycled pieces are just as important in the creation process as anything and add a lot to the artist’s experience. Although, more than trash can be found at the dump, including perfectly good new paint and lumber, Otto reflected that “This lifestyle is more about knowing where to find what you need than anything else.”  Otto says he was initially drawn to the idea of giving something that was thrown out a second chance at life, and the fact that the materials never get old, which provides major intrigue for artists.  So where does recyclable art fit in to the green movement that is currently taking over San Francisco? Otto described it as a way to inspire people to think more about reusability, “Those that are drawn to my work are drawn to it because they like what they see, but often after finding out it's made from discarded materials, they like it even more, and I can get down with that.”  Seeing the beauty in things that most people don’t is a trait that Eric Otto shares with unconventional nature writer Jenny Price, who’s article 13 Ways of Seeing Nature in L.A. showcases the unsung nature in the city that has become the symbol for all things anti-nature.  The article explains different ways to find nature in places you normally would not expect to, one of which being in a mango body whip cream (Price).  Even though the mango does not show itself in a conventional form, it still is in the product and very much connected to nature.  Sounds a lot like seeing the good in an old piece of rusty, contorted scrap metal.  Many artists share the same knack for seeing the splendor in irregular materials, and the environment is benefitting from it.  The movement to use recycled materials and put a stop to wastefulness by using waste is on the rise and gaining heaps of recognition not only for its unique and stunning aesthetic, but also for the drive that artists who are creating the pieces have.  Eric Otto describes being an artist who uses such materials, “I feel like I am part of a group of people who lead a humble movement of demonstrating how to see the beauty where others don't. The more people we can get on board the better.”  The bigger message artists like Eric Otto focus on is reflecting their connection with the environment in their work, which is very inspiring to all those who see it.

/Blair & Melinda

Works Cited:

Price, Jenny. "Thirteen Ways of Seeing Nature in L.A.."Believer (2006): n. pag. Web. 10 Dec 2010. <http://www.believermag.com/issues/200604/?read=article_price>.

Otto, Eric. Personal Interview by Blair Reed. 27 Nov 2010.

Detritus Artists

Many people wonder if it is really possible to find all the materials one needs when the arts and crafts store is the local dump. In the article “Detritus Artists – Sustainable Art”, Nicole Wong states; “these artists prove that all it takes is effort to find the needed items. The dump contains such a large variety of goods that if a person is willing and able to spend the time to search, whatever object one desires will show up, eventually”. Wong tells us about the Detritus artists; a group of individuals whose only art supply comes from the San Francisco dump. Val Britten is one of the artists that make art as part of Recology San Francisco's artist-in-residence program, and she is amazed by how much hidden treasure the dump actually contains. Britten personally believes that supplies found on the dump adds extra character to her work (Locke). Her work inspires many others to take advantage of what we have, instead of consume more and more (Wong). It is extremely inspiring to see how these artists are able to find value in something that has been viewed as worthless, and thrown away, by someone else.  


/Melinda & Blair

Work cited:

Locke, Michelle. "Dumpster Divas Practice Art of Recycling." ABC News. ABC News, 05 010 2010. Web. 6 Dec 2010. <http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory?id=11805215&page=1>.

Wong, Nicole. "Detritus Artists: Sustainable Artists." Technorati Green. Technorati, Inc, 08 010 2010. Web. 6 Dec 2010. <http://technorati.com/lifestyle/green/article/detritus-artists-sustainable-art/>. 

Eric Otto

Here are some incredible works of art by Eric Otto, a renowned artist from San Francisco who just finished working at the 'dump' for AIR, for your viewing pleasure.  Check out more of his work at his website: http://www.erikotto.com/

Oasis
house paint, spray paint and pencil on recycled canvas
42 x 54 in

Full Circle no.2
House paint, spray paint, screen print and pencil on scrap wood.

30 x 40 in.

Trash is Treasure

Some artists have stories behind their artwork, but others are created from a clear mind, something that is created merely because the artist believes that it is beautiful. Professor George Szekely, Area Head and Senior Professor of Art Education at the University of Kentucky, has a strong belief in creating art from objects that he simply loves. In his article "Trashcan Artists", Szekely tells us about his art studio where he encourages kids to come and create their own art, by only using materials from trashcans. Szekely finds it interesting and inspiring to see how kids create their art from finding value in the trash they use. He states that; “The recycle bin or trashcan suggests to children treasure hunting, conservation and the sense of being able to discover and make things for themselves” (31). From this statement you can tell that children do not see trash as something disgusting, but rather something fun that they can use to make their own toys, statues, or even a completely functioning umbrella. This idea of using trash as materiel for art is something very beneficial to our environment, it is not only excellent recycling but also a fabulous opportunity to create something that people will find beautiful, entertaining or even useful. Szekely says that;

“I am convinced (and we have put it through limited art- room testing) that, if for some reason our economy collapsed, and we needed to look to alternative sources for clothing and shelter, children could take care of their needs by redesigning items from the class trashcan”(31).

In our society, where consumption has become the norm, this idea of making sustainable art can be a step in the right direction towards improving the environment and making our planet a better place. Why spend money on new supplies when we have the opportunity to just re-use the things that are available to us? 

/ Melinda & Blair

Works Cited:

Szekely, George. "Trashcan Artists." Arts and Activities. Feb 2005: 31-44. Print. 

The Joy of Creating Sustainable Art

The smell of rotting tidbits of that turkey sandwich you couldn’t finish, scraps of torn trash bags that have burst open because they cannot hold the weight of the enormous amounts of waste inside them, the inevitable shards of glass from empty and half full beer bottles left tossed aside at was sure a lively bar, all culminating together, marinating, creating the smell of the dump: Not the place where you would expect to find inspiration and the means to give birth to a work of art. Not the place at all.  However, underneath all the mess are hidden gems just waiting to find their way to a masterpiece.  Case-in-point proven by local San Francisco artists who use the dump right here in San Francisco, called Recology, as a place to scavenge materials that will be transformed into something unrecognizable through a program at the dump called Artists In Residence program.  One of the artists currently in residence, Ferris Plock, a well-known artist in San Francisco has had great success finding materials so far, “On any given day, I can find paints, brushes, panels, sandpaper, canvas, stains, paper, etc... Basically, Recology can supply me with all the materials I could ever want, for free. I accomplished near to nothing the first two weeks because I was too busy processing the sheer quantity of stuff that moves through a place like Recology every single day.”  Artists like Ferris Plock are relishing in the joy of creating art that is not only aesthetically amazing, but birthed from recycled materials that are ultimately good for the environment.

/Melinda & Blair 


Works Cited:

Plock, Ferris. Personal Interview by Blair Reed. 26 Nov 2010.

Lets get started shall we?

Its a beautiful day in San Francisco, the sun is shining and the wind is cool, just as it should be in November. We are Blair and Melinda, Melinda and Blair. We are two students at USF and we are currently doing a project on sustainable art here in San Francisco. It is a subject that we both find very interesting and we have created this blog, not only for people who would like to follow our project, but also for ourselves. This is a project we will devote a lot of time to and this will be our little diary.

Thanksgiving is upon us, which means that people are spending time with their beloved. So will we. And the first step we will take after this break is to go visit Recology. We want to find out more about this spectacular place. If you are as curious as we are... then check out our blog after the holidays.

Happy thanksgiving!

/Melinda & Blair