Picking Up the Pieces

James, recycled pottery + mosaic tiles, by Claudia Cady

Recycled art may go down in history as the official medium of the COVID-19 era, since it makes great use of spare time and spares the expense of pricey art supplies. Administrators of Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore ReUse Contest reported more than 70 submissions when announcing the winners of the 9th annual event in late October.

Entrants showed off projects made of scrap, found, or secondhand materials, including many instances of “old brown furniture” given a radically stylish makeover. Judges bestowed prizes in seven categories: Furniture, Homesteading, Live/Work Space, Home Decor, Youth, Best in Show, and a new category, Art, “that brought in an impressive amount of submissions,” according to Communications Director Ariane Kjellquist. (Communications Associate Klesa Ausherman praises the high quality of this year’s work.)

“A link on the nonprofit’s home page shows images of all the winning entries — some with “before” shots — including the portrait James, submitted by Claudia Cady.”  Inspired by a photo, the piece is made mostly “from one large colorful plate found at the ReStore,” says Cady. “The rest is all recycled pottery or mosaic tiles.” The artist submitted three pieces and says, “this one is my favorite.”

 Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity ReStore (33 Meadow Road) and ReStore Weaverville (61 Weaver Blvd.). To see the list of winners, visit ashevillehabitat.org. 

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