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One Artist’s Perspective on “Home is Where the Art Is”

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It’s that time of year again. Our third annual “Home is Where the Art Is” recycled art show and silent auction is just around the corner. With tickets on sale January 3, we thought we’d give you a sneak peek at one artist’s journey to their finished product.

This is Josh Thomas’ 3rd year participating in the art show. “The Habitat Art Show is such a unique opportunity to really give back to Habitat,” Josh says. “I love taking part.”

 

Josh chose this unique cabinet from the ReStore as his chosen medium.

 

He brought it home and removed the cabinet doors and began to paint. “Between coats of black paint and right after I painted my first door, I started worrying there was no way I could possibly pull the project off,” Josh said. “I thought I might be better off taking it to a wood studio and trying make something out of the wood before I messed it up any more.”

 

Luckily, Josh kept going and after painting the exterior of the cabinet black, he painted the doors yellow and cream. “I started thinking maybe it wouldn’t turn out so bad,” he said.

 

Josh put the doors back on and added some aged tiles to the top. Here’s a snapshot of the finished product:

“The thing that originally drew me to the cabinet was the lines on the doors,” Josh said. “After I found the yellow and black paint at ReStore, it was already fully formed in my head. I think it would be a great addition to any home as a side table, media storage or even a bar.”

Bid on Josh’s or other pieces on February 2 at the Spirit Room. Tickets are available now online, at the Spirit Room Gallery and at the Habitat ReStore (210 11th Street North, Moorhead.) Learn more about this fun event on our website.

Habitat Holds Second Recycled Art Show

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On Saturday, February 4 Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity held its second annual “Home is Where the Art Is” Recycled Art Show and Silent Auction at the Spirit Room Gallery in downtown Fargo. Approximately 170 attendees snacked on appetizers provided from a variety of restaurants and bid on the 35 art pieces made by 33 local artists with materials from the Habitat ReStore. In total, the event raised more than $4,500 to support Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity’s mission of building homes and hope in Cass and Clay counties.

Here’s just a few snapshots from that night:


The Creative Process: One Artist’s Perspective on “Home is Where the Art Is”

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Creating a work of art isn’t easy.  Creating recycled art provides an even greater challenge.  Here at Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, we greatly appreciate the hard work contributed by the artists participating in our “Home is where the Art is” Recycled Art Show and Silent Auction.   Each artist was given the task of creating a piece using at least one material from Habitat ReStore. 

Local artist Dawn Summerall Conant was inspired by this project to create a piece outside of her comfort zone.  Below she shares the creative process for her entry, entitled “Create Yourself.”

I went into the Home is where the Art is Recycled Art Show with the intention of painting a mailbox or a mirror.  I saw some of the pieces from the previous year and was really excited about getting the chance to paint a table or something.  But when I went down there, nothing really spoke to me.  Restore happened to be out of mailboxes that day and I didn’t really see a table I just ‘had’ to paint.  I saw one of the employees sorting through some plywood panels and preparing to throw some of the runty ones away.  One of them was large, but light enough for me to ‘get personal’ with.  I could easily carry it and work with it.  I asked if I could have that panel and he said that I could. This was what I started with.

"Create Yourself" created by local artist Dawn Conant.

I also got a mirror, but as I went on with that panel, the mirror got downgraded to just a single circular mirror acting as the moon.  I sanded that panel and painted it with white base coat, also from the Restore. Then I went out and bought some acrylic paint. This is not a medium I work with very often but I thought it would be fun to experiment. The theme was ‘Create Yourself’.

I had recently heard Bernard Shaw’s quote ‘Life isn’t about finding yourself. It is about creating yourself.’ It really struck a chord in me. A home is a powerful external expression of a person’s self. Creating a home and creating yourself go hand in hand.  I drew an outline of the design on the painted white panel, chose a color scheme with the help of the Adobe Kuler program, and painted like mad. I started painting in the living room and then dragged it in the bedroom. I turned it every which way and painted in circles and spirals. Then I outlined the spirit, who is reaching for the moon.

Finally, I was finished painting. It was simple and bright and it looked pretty good. I thought it would be a good idea to put a clear sealer over it for protection and a little shine. I used a paint I thought was a clear sealer. It dried in white stripes on top of my painting. It turns out it was a sealer for bare materials, not for paint. Live and learn! I didn’t know what to do other than scrub the panel clean and start over. At this point, there were three days left before the deadline to turn in the piece and I had only one day off of work out of those three.

I got over the great sealer debacle of 2011 and started painting again. I painted all day. I changed some things and I rethought some things I had done the first time. I took a break and bought some Krylon to seal it with.  I started and finished that painting on my day off. I learned so much from that stupid, reject panel. In the end, I’m glad to have finished the painting instead of just tossing in the towel and abandoning the endeavor. The experience I gained from this project was invaluable.

Thanks to Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and Restore for providing me and other local artists with materials and opportunities to create ourselves and our art.

Art is available for viewing at the Spirit Room, 111 Broadway, Fargo and through the online flickr album.  The February 4th event includes a silent auction, wine tasting from Bernie’s Wine and Liquors and appetizers.  Tickets for the event are on sale now for $15 at fargostuff.com, the Spirit Room, and Habitat ReStore.  Tickets will be available for $20 at the door on February 4th.  Must be 21 or older to attend. 

Join us at the 2012 “Home is where the Art is” Event:

When:  Saturday, February 4th from 6:30pm – 9:30pm (Auction ends at 8:30pm)

Where:  Spirit Room, 111 Broadway, Fargo

Art Instead of the Landfill: An Artist’s Perspective on “Home is Where the Art Is”

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Home is Where the Art Is logoThe idea “art instead of the landfill” is one of the driving forces behind Habitat ReStore’s “Home is Where the Art Is” Recycled Art Show and Silent Auction.  Over the past 5 years, Habitat ReStore has diverted approximately 1,400 tons of materials from area landfills by accepting donations of used appliances, furniture, and home improvement materials and selling them at low prices to local shoppers.

Earlier this winter, local artists created pieces using at least one ReStore material for the “Home is Where the Art Is” Recycled Art Show.  The materials they used varied, from small dowels and metal hardware to large windows and doors.  Their work gives a new meaning to “repurposed material,” and is now on display at the Spirit Room in downtown Fargo.  The art will be auctioned off to benefit Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity at a special event featuring appetizers and wine tasting on Saturday, February 4th at the Spirit Room.

Gary Brekke -Saw Blade Wind Chime

"Saw Blade Wind Chime" created by long-time Habitat volunteer Gary Brekke.

One of the artists participating in this event is Gary Brekke, a longtime volunteer crew leader for Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity.  Here’s what he has to say about his experience with this event and his “cutting edge” wind chime made out of saws:

“I’ve been a building volunteer with LAHFH since 1996 and an ‘artist’ since a kind grade school teacher told me I was …. so when the ReStore Home is Where the Art Is project was announced, I thought, ‘what a great way to combine both passions to benefit LAHFH.’

Saws are used all the time on the build site and over the years I’ve noticed that if bumped just right they make a different sound — ‘music’?  — than normally heard on the site while cutting wood … so for this year’s ReStore project I decided to use combine these tools to make ‘music’ with help of the wind. So this ‘cutting-edge’ wind chime was created … Enjoy the music responsibly since these are still sharp …

Music instead of the landfill …

Art instead of the landfill …

Builder turned artist changes tools into art …”

Art is available for viewing at the Spirit Room, 111 Broadway, Fargo and through the online flickr album.  The February 4th event includes a silent auction, wine tasting from Bernie’s Wine and Liquors and appetizers.  Tickets for the event are on sale now for $15 at fargostuff.com, The Spirit Room, and Habitat ReStore.  You can also purchase tickets for $20 at the door on February 4th .  Must be 21 or older to attend.  

Join us at the 2012 Home is Where the Art Is event:

When: Saturday, February 4th from 8 am- 10 am

Where: Spirit Room, 111 Broadway, Fargo

Submissions are in for 2012 Art Show

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What type of art could you design if you were given a window, light fixture, or electrical box?  These materials are a few of the pieces that make up the artwork that local artists have submitted for the second annual “Home is where the Art is” Art Show and Silent Auction.  Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity ReStore  reached out to local artists and asked them to use their talents to create a piece of art utilizing home improvement materials from the Habitat ReStore.

Local artists responded to the challenge!  Here at Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity, we are overwhelmed with art submissions and we are very excited for our upcoming art show on February 4th.  From very intricate, detailed pieces to painted windows, fans, and cabinets, there is a piece of artwork for everyone. 

Art Show 2011

Art show attendant browses the art pieces at the 2011 “Home is Where the Art is” event.

Every artist’s mind began to create a piece the minute they walked into the ReStore and picked out their materials.  Some artists came up with a way to incorporate their pieces into the mission of Habitat for Humanity- they took ReStore materials and created art within the theme of creating a home.  Other artists focused on creating something whimsical from nuts, bolts, mortar or tiles.  Still other artists created functional pieces, designed to be incorporated into someone’s home.  The variety of pieces submitted is outstanding.  We are thrilled that each artist was able to use their creativity and imagination while helping the community. 

Interested in seeing all of the finished pieces?  The “Home is where the Art is” Art Show and Silent Auction will be held on Saturday, February 4th, 2012 from 6:30-9:30 at the Spirit Room in downtown Fargo and includes wine tasting and appetizers from area restaurants.  The art will be on display at the Spirit Room and open to the public from Jan. 16th – Feb. 4th.  

Tickets go on sale starting January 2nd at the Spirit Room, fargostuff.com, and Habitat ReStore, 210 11th St. N Moorhead, MN.  Cost is $15 presale or $20 at the door.  Must be 21 or older to attend.    

Stay tuned for art show news and sneak peeks on Facebook and Twitter.

Chuck Suchy Concert & Silent Auction

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Looking for something fun to do this evening?  Join Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity and Great Plains singer-songwriter Chuck Suchy for a one night fundraising concert and silent auction for Habitat!

Singer-songwriter Chuck Suchy

Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity is hosting a fundraiser concert with Chuck Suchy at First Lutheran Church, located at 619 Broadway in Fargo, N.D. The event takes place on November 12, 2011, with a silent auction starting at 6:30 p.m., followed by the musical performance from 7-9 p.m.

Called “…one of the shining lights of the Upper Great Plains” by CROSSROADS MAGAZINE, singer and songwriter Chuck Suchy extols the Great Plains region and lifestyle in his music.  Suchy, a native of Mandan, N.D., is an acoustic guitar performer who receives his musical inspiration as a working farmer. Many of his songs reflect his experiences from life in the Great Plains, and the concert will feature music from his latest album, “Unraveling Heart.”

Silent Auction

Sneak peek of some of the great Silent Auction items available.

 

 Tickets for the event are $15 and will be available at the door. All proceeds from ticket and silent auction sales will go toward Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity to help fund costs from the 2011 build season.  Silent Auction will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by the musical performance from 7-9 p.m.

The 2011 Build Season is nearing the end of completion and there are still partner families eagerly waiting to move in to homes of their own. Join us and help us raise the remaining dollars to make this possible!

Join us at the Chuck Suchy Concert & Silent Auction:

When: Saturday, November 12th

Time:  Silent Auction begins at 6:30pm Musical performance begins at 7:00 p.m.

Where: First Lutheran Church Celebration Hall (619 North Broadway, Fargo)

For more information on Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity visit: www.lakeagassizhabitat.org

For more information on Chuck Suchy or to hear samples of his music visit: www.chucksuchy.com

Calling All Artists for Home is Where the Art Is Art Show and Silent Auction.

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The saying goes: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”

Here at the Lake Agassiz Habitat for Humanity ReStore, we take that to heart.  The Habitat ReStore opened in 2006 with a three-fold mission: generate funds to build more Habitat for Humanity homes in Cass and Clay counties, sell new and used home improvement materials and appliances at affordable prices, and to keep usable home improvement materials out of the local landfill.

To celebrate Habitat ReStore’s sustainable practices and connection with the community, we are preparing for the second annual Home is Where the Art Is Art Show and Silent Auction, a unique event where artists from our community are encouraged to share their take on this old adage.  Artists are invited to use materials from the ReStore’s collection of donated home improvement materials to create a work of art.

Participating artists are given a $50 voucher for materials from the ReStore to create an art piece.  With the unique nature of the materials we sell at the ReStore, the possibilities for creativity are endless.  Last year, a variety of materials were used including doors, windows, glass, tiles, power cords, furniture and much more.  In viewing the flickr album of the pieces created last year, it is amazing to see how artists can repurpose products donated to the ReStore and create a new treasure out of something that could have been sent to the landfill.

Are you an artist? Do you know an artist?  We are looking for artists that love a challenge and want to make a positive impact on their community.  The art will be displayed at the Spirit Room Gallery in downtown Fargo for three weeks and will  then auctioned off at the Home Is Where the Art Is event on February 4th, 2012.  All of the funds raised from the artwork sold will support Lake Agassiz Habitat’s mission of building simple, decent, and affordable homes for families in our community.   That is truly making treasure out of trash.

If you are interested in creating a work of art for this event, please visit our website  or contact Shelby Cochran at 218-284-5253 ext. 2 or Shelby@lakeagassizhabitat.org.