Arte De Descartes

August 27, 2009

A mangled old shoe sole, a crushed pair of glasses and a flattened rusted spray can are among Stu Wittwer’s coveted stash of art supplies. Using screws and wire, he joins these and other precious found items together to create sculptures. “Movie Man” is a robot made almost entirely from parts of a deconstructed 16mm Bell & Howell projector, no longer functioning because its worn parts are no longer sold. The coiled filament light now perches at the end of a branch-like metal arm, facing the viewer as if to say “I’m back!”

Join Wittwer and over 50 other artists for “Arte De Descartes IX,” which translates to “Art from Discards,” the ninth annual recycled art show at the Stables Gallery on 133 Paseo Del Pueblo Norte. Opening reception is Saturday, August 29 from 4-8 p.m., with live music provided Sunshine Archestra, formerly the Sunshine Marching Band and Atzlan.

“A lot of these artists are obscure, they do their own things and don’t really use phones or email. They come out of the wood work for this show,” says Melissa Larson, organizer of this juried show. Larson is also the founder of Wholly Rags, a non-profit dedicated to local recycling efforts. The show is an opportunity to explore the more playful and fun side of recycling, she explains. In conjunction with the show will be a Recycled Fashion Fair on Saturday, Sept. 5 from 5-7pm and a Recycling Meeting on Saturday Sept. 12 at 1pm.

Featuring mostly local artists, the show also includes pieces from an Ohio artist who weaves fabric softener drier sheets; a Texan with a penchant for shredded tablecloths and a Minnesotan who makes gourd-headed spirit dolls. Invited artists include Erin Currier, Lydia Garcia, Starr, Ed Larson and Terrie Mangat.

Mangat is a local, internationally renowned quilt artist who uses a range of techniques to create her brilliantly colored and textured works. She is currently working on a piece about water and when I spoke with her, was in the midst of sewing 100 crystals into the fabric.

“I also use acrylic paints, beads, hand embroidery and sometimes leather,” she says. “I have a huge stash of stuff that I work from. It’s been accumulating since I was 11 years old, when I used to take the public bus (in Kentucky) to the fabric shops.”

Joel Lage, also an invited artist, has been making recycled art since 1970. His school bus art studio near Penasco is packed with reclaimed items awaiting resurrection. “If there’s an arroyo with no junk in it, I’ve already been there,” he says.

“Study Hall Fantasy” is an old school desk with a ceiling fan, a rudder and a fog light mounted onto it. “Pull Toy” is a five-gallon gas can riding in a wagon adorned with tin cans and brass parts. “My theme is to take mundane, common place objects and make them look precious,” he says.

Kelly Barrett’s work traverses many media and now includes improvisational performance art that aims to “translate the spirit of the environment.” She borrowed an outfit from a friend years ago (a practice she formerly eschewed) which she wore in tranquil natural setting in France. A spontaneous dialogue emerged between her and mother nature, her movements became a sort of dance, giving birth to a new creative outlet. Borrowed clothing continues to be a key ingredient in opening the dialogue channels.

A self-proclaimed pack rat, Barrett chose a box of maps collected during her travels around the world, as her material for a recycled art piece. She glued them on top of one another, compressed them in a flower press and then cut out shapes. The resulting installation is a glorious nature scene (with roads and interstate highways winding through if you look closely) attached to the wall with specimen pins.

Along with “Movie Man,” this year Wittwer will present a line of 100% recycled material necklaces. Some contain lockets encasing magazine images; one is made from a broken tape measure, with sections fanning out like sun rays. Some are macabre with hands and legs from his grandson’s broken toys as beads.

“Last year my grandkids sent me a box of their broken toys with a note that said, ‘Make something!’ I love that, it’s like getting a kit,” he says. “And now they’re starting to get into making things which is great.”

The show runs through September 12. For more information, visit www.whollyrags.org or call 575 751-9862.