The buzz is on for the words reduce, reuse, recycle, upcycle, repurpose, revamp, and reinvent into art. You’ve seen it in emails making the rounds, art made out of flip-flops, soda bottle furniture, chandeliers made from candle holders, cans and glass bottles. There’s fashionable jewelry made from Coke cans, bottle tops, Barbie doll appendages, even underwear and shelters, as in bus stops. Who remembers the first belts made out of old tires and bottle caps? They’re still around after what, 20 years?
Upcycling is the latest trend described as taking items that have been discarded into landfills, rescued and given a new use, an upgrade to another purpose from its original purpose. It’s called being the best we can be by reinventing and creating art that is characteristically interesting, quirky,colorful, semi-disturbing – setting the pace for a new artistic statement, heading into a new era of art.
If any of those words are true, and I believe they are because the Cherry Arts Festival was a carnival of old, made new again. I would venture to speculate that a vintage theme ran through 50% of the booths I visited.
In order from top: Mike Turney – Assemblage www.miketurney.wordpress.com
Photographic works by Micheal Paul Cole. www.michealpaulcole.com
Ceramic plate – I apologize. I cannot find the artist’s name. If you know please send message on this post.
Jewelry – Fat Cat Studio. www.fatcatjewelrystudio.com
Check out these two websites that are the true essence of Upcycling.
denverartmatters.com 
Interesting stuff!
I like some, not all. Interesting use of stuff.