What Is Upcycled Art ?

One legged Barbie, Grandma's old ashtray collection (who smokes anymore anyway?), old magazines. 

What to do with this stuff?  Throw it away? Recycle it?  Hang it on the wall?

You might say that you are not the type to hang garbage on your wall but you might if it was art.

We all understand that recycling is good and keeps tons of would be garbage out of our landfills but there is a difference between recycling and upcycling.  To recycle an item, old sneakers for example, they are changed from their original form and then incorporated into a new form such as safety padding for playgrounds.  Upcycling is when and object such as an old glass ashtray keeps its original form just not its original purpose. That glass ashtray could become a suncatcher or an element in a sculpture.   Another example of upcycling is magazine bead jewelry.  Old magazines can soon be worn as a fashionable and eco-friendly accessory.  This article shows how easily this can be done.

So now that you know the difference between recycling and upcycling are you still wondering if the one legged Barbie is trash or artistic treasure?  Take a look at Maraux Lange's work below and decide for yourself.

Contributed by Sandy Walker