Artists find inspiration in repurposed items

January 17, 2018 at 1:53 a.m. | Updated January 17, 2018 at 1:39 a.m.

by Neil Abeles

Here's the one idea hardly anyone other than an artist could envision. Take wood, rake, glasses and one nail and it will become a work of culinary art.
Here's the one idea hardly anyone other than an artist could envision. Take wood, rake, glasses and one nail and it will become a work of culinary art.

Using an object's original purpose for something else is as old as human civilization and also a lot of modern-day fun.

When an artist does this, it's called repurposed art. And because they do it especially well, the old abandoned object often becomes-surprise!-a work of art.

Atlanta's Local Creations art store has many repurposed objects. Five are pictured here.

Some examples: A Coke bottle become a Christmas decoration, a circular saw is a flower, a rake holds wine glasses, and two spoons, a fork, two bottle caps and a piece of wood make a comical face.

One can thank local artists Sheryl Pattillo and Sharon Thomason for these creations. They like to do repurposed art, and they do it so well if often brings a smile.

At its simplest level, repurposing is recycling. Take old clothes, tear them apart into rags, and you are repurposing. Notice how good it feels to create something for another use rather than simply throwing it away.

Go into any art store and it will usually have a section dedicated to repurposed art.

Pattillo says she doesn't look especially for objects to be re-purposed.

"It simply comes to mind when you are walking around," she said. "What might be done with this? We're doing so much with other materials each day that we don't think especially about just one thing. It just happens."

Local Creations does, however, have a schedule of purposeful activities. Here's a few:

  •  Adult lessons are taught 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Monday and Tuesday
  •  From noon to 1 p.m. on Thursdays, the store holds Bible study. Pat Collins teaches and lunch is served.
  •  Every other week, Lisa Nichols takes a craft class to nursing homes to work with the residents.
  •  A children's art class is held 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. each Tuesday.

Nancy Martin, who taught art for 37 years in Texarkana, has now moved back to her hometown of Atlanta and is associated with the art store. Other leaders are Martha Ward and Suzanne Hobbs and Sharon Hartline.

"We're a nice, cheerful place to drop into to," Pattillo said. "We're trying to be a service to the community. If you want a party or an art class, just contact us. It can be arranged."

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