QUIRKY RECYCLED ART

Not many things delight me more than making something beautiful out of discards, be they bottles, driftwood, wire, or even people. We throw away so much that could be useful and beautiful. If I had my way, no one would be allowed to build a new house until all the existing houses in the world were being used, or buy new storage-ware unless they have no empty pimento cheese tubs. Why don’t we refurbish old office buildings or use old schools for homeless shelters? I’m always happy when I see how old factories have been renovated and made into shops and restaurants. Taking something that has been abandoned or tossed and reusing it in an innovative way makes me smile, particularly if it’s transformed into a pleasing piece of art.

The Bottle Chapel at Airlie Gardens in Wilmington, NC is one example of how rubbish can become inspired art that enlightens the soul. Minnie Evans used old bottles and cemented them into walls, allowing the colors and shapes of the glass to shine in unexpected ways. The structure enchants the heart and inspires the soul with possibilities.

Take an old anything and use your creative light to mold it into a source of illumination and joy!