Want to see examples of how local projects (including the WetLand installation) make art from the arts by creating with materials salvaged from local theatre and film sets? Have a show in the Fringe or work for a local theatre company, and want to design, build, and prop greener sets? Looking for an alternative to landfill for your set materials after the curtain closes? Join The Resource Exchange aboard WetLand to learn more about creative reuse and recycling within Philadelphia’s Theatre Community…and beyond!
Tomorrow, September 14th from 2pm-5pm, the re team will be on board the floating art piece with an informational table on reuse and recycling within Philadelphia’s theatre community. WetLand, the FringeArts installation by artist Mary Mattingly is described as “an otherworldly houseboat moored on the Delaware River that’s part interactive public art installation, part urban farm and dwelling place.” Not only will we be on board with information and examples, but WetLand itself actually contains reclaimed materials from our store.
Greg Lindquist, collaborator on WetLand, came into the re for salvaged materials to help build the floating public art installation.
He left with a huge stack of lauan that we were able to save from The Walnut Street Theatre. The painted lauan was used as the stage floor for two of the local theatre’s productions, 2012’s The Music Man, and 2013’s Elf. After being painted on both sides and used twice, the Walnut’s Technical Director dropped them by The Resource Exchange instead of sending them to landfill in hopes that someone might be able to reuse them again. We were so happy that Greg was be able to see another life for these, and within the Philadelphia theatre and arts community no less! When we say we want to encourage our community to “make art from the arts” this is what we mean. Too often, reusable materials used to build art and theatre projects in Philadelphia get thrown “away” once the project is over.
Want to find out more about reducing your impact as an artist, reusing materials from the arts community around you, and recycling what’s left? Visit us tomorrow on WetLand! We’ll be there to “trash talk” with you and exchange ideas about our mission of encouraging the creation of art from the arts.
