During our conversation we talked about people’s different perceptions of what they need in their life and what they want or would consider a luxury. Mercedes reminded me that “reduce” is actually the first “r” in how communities should approach the problem of waste. 

We talked about items that people use often but might not consider as having much of an impact on the environment and Mercedes mentioned a statistic that really struck her and consequently, struck me: The American public uses 500,000,000 straws per day. That’s 500,000,000 straws per day.
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This was especially interesting, since I have been working on an artwork with straws in my studio. I have been collecting straws for a long time — I use them, but not that often, but now I am thinking not at all!

Here’s a few pictures of what I have made so far. Its structural support is some old mini shutters from our house, I am still a long ways from feeling like it is a resolved artwork: 

One final thought before I sign off: I am thinking this exhibition in August should be interactive. People could look at the artifacts in the art and place a mark, maybe a certain color on items they feel are necessary and a different color on items they don’t feel are necessary. Besides being interesting to watch it change visually, would we find that one person’s necessity another person’s luxury?

Quote for now: “The creative process is a process of surrender, not control.” -Julia Cameron 

To reach Mercedes Anto about educational programs about  the Salt Lake County landfill and recycling contact her by phone or e-mail: 385-468-6399 or SLCO.ORG/RECYCLE

Another good recourse for environmental education is: Utah Society for Environmental Education, USEE. They will be having an environmental education conference this coming month. Check it out! http://usee.org/

Hey there! This is my first post of a twice monthly Artifactist Blog I intend to write about artwork(s), my own and others' made from people's trash/"artifacts." To have your artifacts included in one of my artworks, go to this link: 
http://www.ahheidinger.com/getinvolved.html

So far I have gotten the following artifacts for artwork I am planning to exhibit August 2017: 

• A lotion pump valve
• Plastic spirals from spiral notebooks
• Super scratched sunglasses
• Parts of mini audio tapes
• 2 ripped bags for baby wipes
• A hologram card that was a free children's prize
• A chewed up dog toy

I have been amazed at the diversity and glad that I am getting the chance to work with a few items I myself have not had to ponder, namely the mini audio tapes and baby wipe bags. We have dog tops galore and I have yet to include them — that could be interesting!

The first step for me this past weekend (that's right — I am finally getting started!) was to organize my studio and categorize the artifacts. Here is where I placed the new items alongside my own artifacts:

• Lotion pump valve went in with thin linear objects, like straws, stir sticks, etc.
• Plastic spirals went in with other plastic spirals
• Sunglasses are going in with "misc items" for now. Distinctive cool things are the hardest for me to work with because they have a cool quality all their own. I tend to not want to ruin them, but yet am not sure if I want them to stand out. Tricky stuff, but I love a challenge.
• Parts of mini-audio tapes- goes in clear plastic packaging (another cool item!)
• Baby wipe bags- goes with colored, soft plastic packaging which I typically like to include in weavings 
• Hologram card-  goes in "misc items" for now
• Chewed dog toy- goes in "misc items" for now

Categorizing artifacts is always my first step of brainstorming to make an artwork.  This is something I will talk about at my artist workshop on Earth Day, April 22 from 3- 5 PM at the Marmalade Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Well, I am going to sign off now, but I will leave you with a final humorous quote, a plea, and a cool image and link:

Quote:"I pick up other people's trash, I am sort of obsessed." -Eric Close

Plea: Please send your artifact, give me challenge, "be a part of the art"!

Art and website: Check out this picture from an artist who makes art out of trash that washes up in Mexico. I found it on this cool website that actually has a lot of admirable artwork.