Charleston County News Release

MEDIA CONTACT

Name:   Jennie Davis Flinn, Charleston County Public Information Officer

Phone: (843) 958-4012

Email:   jflinn@charlestoncounty.org

Release Number: 3064

Date: November 23, 2009

See photos: http://www.charlestoncounty.org/newsimages/2009ArtContest.htm

Winners Announced in Creative Recycling Art Contest

            See winning artwork at the Charleston County Main Library through Sunday, Nov. 29

Charleston County’s Environmental Management Department recently held the 2009 Creative Recycling Art Contest to celebrate America Recycles Day 2009.

The contest was a success for Charleston County. A total of 68 adults and students entered the contest, which required artwork to be made using only recyclables and discarded material.

A reception for all entrants was held at the Charleston County Main Library (68 Calhoun Street), and the artwork will be on display through Sunday, Nov. 29, in the lobby of the main library.

The contest showed that one person's trash can be another person's art, with entries demonstrating how cardboard, ink cartridges, bottle caps, plastic bottles, newsprint and other "trash" can be made into one-of-a-kind, creative art pieces.

The contest winners are:

Adult Category

• First place: Gayle Gilford of the Isle of Palms for “Clock” made from computer parts, CDs, toys, lipstick, pens, markers, light bulbs, keys, wires, turkey timer, broken jewelry, pop tops and discarded party decorations. Gilford won a $150 gift certificate from Lowe’s and a $150 gift certificate from Artist & Craftsman Supply.
   

• Second place: Austin Abt of Charleston for “Avian Construct” made from scrap metals, fork, twine, typewriter parts, electric motor, pinball machine parts, bulbs and copper wire. Abt won a $100 gift certificate from Artist & Craftsmen Supply.
   

• Third place (honorable mention): Sandra Dumas of Summerville for “Recycled Weaving” made from paper. Dumas won a copy of the book, “Collage, Assemblage and Altered Art,” by Diane Maurer-Mathison.

Student Category

• First place: Kyle Heck of North Charleston, a student at Charleston County School of the Arts; Teacher: Ben Moore. The award is for “Dragonfly Morning” made of found metals and glass. Heck won a $300 gift certificate from Artist & Craftsmen Supply.
   

• Second place: Joseph Lemon, an eleventh grade student at St. John’s High School; Teacher: D. Dowling. The award is for “You can’t see the picture if you’re in the frame” made from wood frames, spray paint, glue and transparencies. Lemon won a $100 gift certificate to Artist & Craftsmen Supply.
   

• Third place (honorable mention): LaAndrea Clinton, a 12^th grade student from St. John’s High School; Teacher: D. Dowling. The award is for “News Carrier” made of projector film, newspaper, paper, basket and glue. Clinton won a copy of the book, “Secrets of Rusty Things; Transforming Found Objects into Art,” by Michael de Meng.

America Recycles Day is celebrated year-round and culminates every Nov. 15 to remind citizens that recycling is working, and the important part each of us plays in its on-going success. The nationwide celebration is designed to encourage people to recycle and buy products made from recycled materials.

South Carolina has developed one of the nation’s top America Recycles state campaigns through the efforts of a statewide public and private steering committee. Various statewide programs and contests are offered each year to support the national America Recycles efforts.

For more information on the Charleston County Creative Recycling Art Contest, contact Charleston County Recycling at 13 Romney Street; Charleston, SC 29403 or call (843) 720-7111.

For more information on America Recycles Day, visit www.americarecyclesday.org.

For more information recycling, contact the Charleston County Environmental Management Department at (843) 720-7111 or visit http://recycle.charlestoncounty.org.