By Ken Keuffel
JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: May 24, 2009
Paper need not end up in the recycling bin to be recycled.
It can find new life as a greeting card, a wedding invitation, a bookmark or a framed piece of adorned art. All that's needed is a shredder, a blender, lots of water, a couple of frames (one with a screen), a piece of cardboard and a sponge-paper towel.

Several clients of the Enrichment Center learned about this last Wednesday during a workshop led by artists Bryant Holsenbeck and Nicole Uzzell. The workshop was the result of a partnership between the center and Piedmont Craftsmen, which has been encouraging its exhibiting-member craft artists and the community to consider the creative possibilities of recycling.

The recycling process demonstrated at the workshop began with lots of shredded paper of several colors. Jane Doub, the executive director of Piedmont Craftsmen, seemed happy that her organization had provided it -- or, rather, found yet another recycling-friendly purpose for it.

"If we didn't use it here, we would ... use it for packing gifts at Christmas," she said.

The shredded paper, which had been soaking in water, was mixed with more water in a blender. This created pulp, which was dumped in a large plastic container.

The pulp at the workshop came to look so thick and soggy that it might have been mistaken for something edible, such as Jello-O.

"We're trying not to eat it" said Holsenbeck, a Durham artist who specializes in creating various pieces of art out of used items, such as bed springs.

The paper pulp began to take form when two frames scooped some of it out. The two frames were stuck together; one had a screen, and the other did not. Something like a thick sheet of paper emerged; this was drained, sponged off and dried on a shop rag lying on a piece of cardboard. Uzzell decorated her example with flowers.

Throughout the workshop, each client got hands-on experience with each step in the process.

The workshop was one of several Piedmont Craftsmen programs focusing on recycling:
* On Show: Through May 30, the organization is presenting an exhibition called "Inspired Reuse" at its gallery at 601 N. Trade St. Several exhibiting members have created "objects of beauty" from such materials as "junk mail, bed sheets, upholstery scraps, old dress patterns, machine parts, biscuit cutters (and) furniture scraps," press materials said.
* For Swap: From Thursday through Saturday, Holsenbeck led a Recycling Labyrinth Swap-a-thon at the AOL Conference Center on North Liberty Street. She guided participants "in designing a walkable labyrinth created out of household items that were still useable," press materials said.
Participants brought non-clothing items for use in the labyrinth, or they selected an item to take home and use. When the labyrinth ended, its items were donated to such local organizations as Habitat ReStore.

Ken Keuffel can be reached at 727-7337 or at kkeuffel@wsjournal.com.

The Sculpture Salmagundi XIII - Rocky Mount Arts Center, 270 Gay Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27804 is calling for entries to all US artists 18 years and older. Maximum of three indoor works and/or three outdoor works. Deadline for receipt of entries is July 10, 2009 and there is no entry fee. To download a prospectus visit http://arts.imperialcentre.org or call 252-972-1175

Inspiring Creative Energy - Artspace, 201 E. Davie Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 is calling for exhibition proposals; solo and group shows, emerging and established artists, all media. Deadline for submission is August 1, 2009 and there is a $10 application fee. All applications must be submitted via Cafe at www.callforentry.com or call 919-821-2787

Joel Hunnicutt is the featured artist for May at the Sara Smith Self Gallery, Moring Arts Center, 123 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro, NC 27203. For further information and gallery hours please call 336-629-0399 or visit www.randolphartsguild.com.

This May North Carolina figurative mixed media artist Nancy Kubale will be featured at the Bennett Galleries, 5308 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919. For further information and gallery hours please call 865-584-6791 or visit www.BennettGalleries.com.

The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County is seeking professional artists or teams of artists nationwide to submit qualifications for two public art projects.

Request for Qualifications: Downtown Center for the Arts Two Public Art Projects
Submission Deadline: Friday May 15, 2009
Budget: up to $100,000 to fund both projects

For the full Request for Qualifications please visit the Arts Council website:http://www.intothearts.org/news_detail.asp?article-id=607808780

The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County has begun a renovation and enlargement of the historic Sawtooth Building in downtown Winston-Salem , NC . Construction should be completed by fall 2010. Two sites in the Downtown Center for The Arts have been selected for placement of specifically commissioned works of art. Artists are invited to submit qualifications for consideration for the projects. Information about the selected sites and RFQ details are available on The Arts Council's website. If you have any questions please contact Rebecca Parker at prkrrbcc@yahoo.com.

Creation of an artisans center in downtown Rocky Mount, NC: rental space is being made available to craft artists in the former Bel Air Chevrolet Dealership on S. Church Street in downtown Rocky Mount. The building is 18,300 square feet under roof with an adjacent 4,100 foot parking lot. The building, constructed in the 1920's, is an excellent example of adaptive reuse.

All interested art students, educators and artisans of fine craft are invited to call for more information (252-955-0296, 252-443-9259 or 252-202-8178) or visit the site at 115 S. Church Street.

Congratulations to Piedmont Craftsmen's Gallery Manager, Kathy Titus. She was chosen by the faculty of Salem College to receive the 2009 Fleer Center Spirit Award. Kathy is a part-time student at Salem College majoring in Arts Administration. She has been with our Gallery since 2006.