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Make Some Recycled Art at the Fun, Free ScrapParty on Memorial Day Weekend at Avery Arts Council

May 21, 2012. This Memorial Day weekend bring the kids to the Avery Arts Council for the ScrapParty! This fun, totally free event will allow folks to be creative with clean, recycled ‘junk’. Let your imagination be your guide, and come make hats, rockets, toys…you name it!

The event is being facilitated by junk artist extraordinaire, John D. Richards. John’s studio, Yummy Mud Puddle, turns out unique sculptures, lamps, jewelry, and a host of other creations. His work can be seen in many local galleries, such as 87 Ruffin Street Gallery in Linville, Art Walk in Boone, Kalá in Morganton and OOAK Gallery in Micaville.

The pied piper of recycled art, John got his start early: “I’ve been creating art out of junk all my life. It started as a kid with junk in my backyard.” When asked why he used junk as his creative medium, John simply replied, “Because it’s there.” 

And there it will be: on Saturday, May 26 from 10am – 3pm on the grounds of the Avery Arts Council’s Avery Gallery, located behind the Old Hampton Store. Come for the whole day, or drop in any time. Participants are not required to bring anything; though pliers, hammers, and screwdrivers could be useful. And naturally, any old junk you have to spare.

As John says,“Clean up the planet…and put it on your wall!”

For those junk art enthusiasts, John will also be teaching two workshops with the Avery Arts Council this summer. The first, on June 16th, is called ‘Trash Art’ and teaches sculptural assemblage skills for turning the discarded in to art. Then on July 28, John returns to teach ‘Inventive Jewelry Making’. Anyone who has seen Yummy Mud Puddle’s jewelry will not want to miss this class! Both classes are from 10am – 3pm (with a break for lunch), and cost $30 per person; all materials are included. Pre-registration a week prior to the class is required. Come celebrate Memorial Day with the Arts Council and get creative about recycling while you’re at it!

The Avery County Arts Council (AAC) is located at 77 Ruffin Street, Linville. The AAC is a nonprofit organization working to enrich the people of Avery County through meaningful arts and cultural experiences. For more than 30 years the Council has helped to support school arts programs and served as a resource for artists and the community.

For more information, call the Arts Council at 828-733-0054 or email info@averycountyartscouncil.org, or contact Caitlin Morehouse at 828-733-0054