Stylin’ Scrap Exchange manikin modeling leis and saline bags
In 2010-2011 65,167 tons of waste were delivered to the Orange County landfill. The Wake County Recycling and Solid Waste Division predicts that by 2016 Wake County alone will generate 800,000 tons of waste. I’m not very good with abstract concepts so I needed a little help to visualize 800,000 tons of waste. A quick trip to Google helped me figure out that the Wake County prediction is the equivalent of over 228,500 Ford F150 trucks (at 7,000 lbs. each). If my math is anywhere near correct, that’s a lot of trash!
Two local non-profits have come up with a unique way to assist the arts while keeping solid waste out of the Triangle area’s landfills. The Scrap Exchange and its budding protege Cary Creative Center collect these waste materials from hundreds of individuals, businesses, and solid waste handlers throughout the Triangle. Over 250 industries within 100 miles of its Durham location contribute to the Scrap Exchange alone. These materials would otherwise languish in our landfills.
The Scrap Exchange and Cary Creative Center imagine a completely different use for what others so casually toss into the trash. To them, these waste materials are actually hard-to-find, low cost art supplies. They are delivered to the non-profits’ retails stores, in the case of the Scrap Exchange, a 22,000 square foot warehouse located in the Golden Belt complex in downtown Durham, where the materials are sorted and packaged for use by artists, schools and creative arts programs throughout the community.
Barrel of rubber bands at The Scrap Exchange
Walking through The Scrap Exchange is an adventure that strains the senses but fires the imagination. Organized lines of electric blue fiber drums hold fabric scraps, rubber bands, corks, plastic McDonald’s toys, zip ties and old cassette tapes. Shelf after metal shelf overflows with scrap booking supplies, baskets, ribbons, tile, test tubes, petri dishes, door knobs and hubcaps. You can find saline drip bags, flour sacks and knee-hi pantyhose. Old electric typewriters and boxes of cordless phones await a new life as art or jewelry. One collection of ancient beige headphones reminded me of the hearing tests we used to take in elementary school. Raise your hand when you hear the beep!
In addition to unconventional art supplies and tax write-offs for donations, the Scrap Exchange also offers community outreach programs. Low cost studio space is available for artists and crafters for an hourly or monthly fee. The center sponsors a full schedule of classes ranging from bookmaking to lace tatting to helping your child make his/her own costume wings. Schools and businesses can schedule creativity workshops or corporate team building events, and with Events by the Truckload, The Scrap Exchange will truck their unique blend of creative energy and craft supplies to you. The Make-N-Take room is a great place to bring your kids on a rainy day. For $5 per participant, your child can use any of the materials in the room and take home their creation. It’s a great venue for birthday parties.
The Scrap Exchange also has an in-house art gallery dedicated to showcasing local artists who are using reclaimed materials in their work. The Green Gallery is currently displaying a show by Durham resident Julia Gartrell entitled “Modified Multiples/Mundane Machines.” Her work will be on exhibit from August 17 through September 15.
While the Cary Creative Center, at 1,800 square feet, is a more compact model, offering more traditional arts and crafts supplies, they provide the same outreach programs as The Scrap Exchange. Reuse-crafting instruction is available for scout groups, daycares, home schoolers, teen groups and others. In September they will be sponsoring classes in paper bead making, up-cycle jewelry design, and collage. You can join them Saturday, September 8 at the Cary Reuse Rodeo, where they will be accepting donated items. To date, Cary Creative Center has saved over 22 tons of landfill waste through their innovative creative reuse programs.
There are many ways you can help the community, the environment, The Scrap Exchange, and Cary Creative Center. Volunteers are always welcome. Both non-profits accept monetary donations as well as clean, reusable items (complete lists for each non-profit may be found here and here). You can also shop locally and purchase reclaimed art in The Scrap Exchange’s Artists’ Marketplace and Cary Creative Center’s C3 Artist Marketplace. Products by local artisans include jewelry, handmade bags, metal sculptures, and screen printed clothing.
What would you make if the only limit was your creativity? Visit The Scrap Exchange and Cary Creative Center to find out!
designing the triangle 