EVERETT — Gale Johansen says the annual “Saving the Environment: Sustainable Art” exhibit at the Schack Art Center is her favorite show of the year.
“It’s exciting,” she said. “I love looking at what other people bring to the show. I always think, ‘Now look what they did with that.’ It’s super mixed media.”
The show is on through May 30 at the center, 2921 Hoyt Ave., Everett.
A Goodwill customer and avid recycler since her teens, Johansen jumps at the chance to incorporate all sorts of junk, garbage and second-hand stuff in her art.
The Snohomish painter plans to exhibit several pieces in this year’s show, including an old globe from Goodwill enhanced with lucky pennies, cherry pits, shells, costume jewelry, fabric paint and iridescent confetti dots applied with toothpicks and spit.
“Part of the thing is that most artists are hoarders or, should I say, they collect things for their work,” Johansen said. “It’s been part of my entire life.”
Other works by Johansen that will be in the recycle show include a hippopotamus made from two candler holders and a roller ball from a computer mouse.
Then there’s the egg-shell lady crafted from an old decorative wooden fork.
“I cut the tines off and made her an outfit from brown and white egg shells, some ink from the 1970s and old beads,” Johansen said. “She’s dainty and slender, about 15 inches tall. I just wish she had a friend. I know, this all sounds nuts. But wait until you see it.”
Johansen’s art is just some of the amusing, whimsical, sculptural and thought-provoking pieces that people will see in the “trashy” exhibit.
Though the artists come from diverse backgrounds, they all share a common bond. They take throwaways and transform them into objects of renewed beauty, utility and meaning, said Maren Oates of the Schack.
“Each of them sees potential where others only see useless junk,” Oates said.
The show is sponsored by Rubatino Refuse Removal, Inc.
In addition to the gallery exhibit, the Schack also will offer its “Upcycled Style: Trash Fashion Show” at 7 p.m. May 2 at the art center. Tickets are $12, which includes a glass of wine and dessert.
Along with Johansen, participating artists in the gallery show and the fashion show include Staci Adman, Dona Anderson, Jim Arrabito, Sean Avery, Aline Bloch, Mary Ellen Bowers, Susan Brendon, Jody Cain, Alana Coleman, Barbara De Pirro, Lynn DiNino, Marita Dingus, Amy Duncan, Claire Farabee, Stuart Gullstrand, Julie Haack, Karen Hackenberg, Terra Holcomb, Katherine Holzknecht, Jan Hopkins, Susie Howell, Wendy Huhn, Peggy Hunt, Gay Jensen, Kristol Jones, Diane Kurzyna (aka Ruby Re-Usable), Alice Larson, Stephen Lestat, Lucy Mae Martin, Danny Mangold, Lin McJunkin, Russ Morgan, Randy Morris, Keith Pace, Evan Peterson, Rainere, Lisa Rhoads, Joe Rossanno, Graham Schodda, Terri Shinn, Britni Jade Smith, Victoria and Ron Smith, Denise Snyder, Christine Stoll, Pat Tassoni, Sylvia White, Laurie Williams, Heather Wilson, Monica Ann Guerrero Yocom, Kitty Center, Selena Eon, Jane Grafton, Nancy Judd, Kristie Maxim, Rebecca Maxim, Loran Scruggs and Robin Worley.
Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @galefiege.
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