Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose Art

Today’s youth are extremely aware of opportunities to save our environment, but more importantly, they are extremely aware and recognize waste in everyday living. Oversized boxes, excess packaging, foam stuffing, packing peanuts, etc. gives them an immediate sense of distaste, even if they like the product underneath all the packaging. 

It’s made this retail store owner more cognizant of areas where our business can adapt and do our part.

Function

There are some places we just can’t stop offering paper products (generally in the restrooms), but our studio hasn’t offered paper towels as a clean-up option since our second or third year in business (celebrating 14 this year!). I had a difficult time tossing out those huge green garbage bags filled with barely used paper towels and have found that sponges work just as well if not better. They are reusable and easily last six to nine months.

The sponges we use to wipe down tables and clean up spills last much longer and are a better option than paper towels. The hardest part? Training our customers to not gravitate to the old habit of needing paper towels, which we leave available just in case. 

Paint spill on the table? Use the brush, grab the color and paint it onto your pottery or canvas. Brushes need drying? A quick swipe on a sponge and you’re ready for a new color.

We still use paper towels sparingly, and are constantly looking for ways to reduce waste.

Acrylic paints stain and make cloth a little crunchy, so we will continue to find ways to lessen our impact, but still use limited paper products. Styrofoam makes a great paint pallet, but again – not good for the environment, so we use paper plates.

We placed a bag order about three years ago and when those bags are gone, we will be asking our customers to bring their own bags from home. We have reusable bags for our groceries in the car, and many of our customers come in with their own. Every little bit helps.

Reuse/Repurpose

One of the best parts of pottery is that it is reusable. Corporate teambuilding events to create coffee mugs to be used over and over in place of Styrofoam or paper coffee cups, family members creating their own tableware (plates and bowls) to be reused at mealtimes, finding purposes for cracked or damaged ware — coffee cups holding pencils or make-up brushes, bowls used to plant a succulent garden, broken pieces used in beautiful mosaics. Artists are some of the most creative when it comes to reusing and repurposing utilitarian objects.

Laurie Knisley, known as the ClayZ Lady, encourages young and old alike to get their art on. Whether it's pottery, painting, crafts, mixed media, journaling or needlework, she believes that art is the cheapest therapy available and the most fun. Laurie owns ClayZ Arts in Rockledge. She can be reached at 321-453-4848, GoCrazy@Clay-Z.com and ClayZArts.com.

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