Dreams By Machine

Re-purposed and Functional Art

• Dreams of re-make, re-use, re-purpose

  Posted on May 9th, 2010 admin No comments

  This was a catch phrase of the 1940’s, when wartime rationing made re-using a virtue. But it truly became necessary at the end of the 1920’s, when the stock crash forced many into austerity measures.

  We now have that necessity again. Hell, Greece is being forced into austerity measures. And when it’s forced, no one likes it.

  So many of the eco-friendly and pseudo-sustainable products available now have the “green” touch of approval by using a portion of recycled product- but not all. Or by recycling, but processing the material so heavily it actually damages the environment more than creating more landfill. Or by using only one product that regrows itself easily (say, bamboo) but tints or dyes or varnishes it in massively toxic chemicals.

  Now, I am not saying that I live the utterly green lifestyle. I could always do better. But I really honestly do re-use, re-make and recycle. (Or is that upcycle? Who made up this phrase? It’s really condescending.)

  The jewelry and accessories I make are at least 90% remnant, scrap, restored and savaged thrift, come from salvage, gift and etc… I wish there was a re-used thread to use. I’d like it if there was an eco-friendly alternative to WD-40. I sadly break machine needles too quickly, but I do re-sharpen the ones with burrs. My display units, even, are mostly repurposed.

  And I get a lot of my clothing from thrift stores. I make pieces out of old sheets and spare fabric, I re-use items for tables and work stations, I figure out and re-purpose and make do.

  Some of this is economy. A lot of this is the firm belief that I just don’t need it to be new.

  So yes, I would love it if you bought my pieces. I would love it if you’d enjoy my entirely re-purposed electric wheelchair. I would adore it if you’d commission one from me. I’d adore it for you to give me your old wheelchair, crutches, walker and prosthetics and have me make them stunning again for you.

  I would love it even more if you’d make something for yourself. If you show me what you’re re-making, re-using and re-purposing today. I will show you how to tear apart your old and unwanted and have you make yourself your own form of beauty. So that you can’t walk past a thrift store or junkyard or yardsale without seeing the art waiting to be born.

  So that we might never need malls and child slavery labor and most fashion advertising ever again.

  Laura

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