Portland artists turn trash into treasure ahead of Earth Day
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — With Earth Day around the corner, Portland is dumping the ordinary and embracing the extraordinary, through art made entirely from trash.
Now in its 14th year, the GLEAN Artists-in-Residence Exhibition puts salvaged scraps center stage. Five local artists spent five months combing through garbage at the Metro Central Transfer Station — also known as the city dump — turning what others tossed out into thought-provoking works of art.
“It’s a gritty treasure hunt,” said artist Marsha Mack, who worked with glass for the first time during the residency. “The thrill of the hunt is one of the best parts of the residency.”
The annual program gives each artist $2,000 and access to the dump, where they're tasked with creating pieces using at least 95% reclaimed material — from doormats and broken glass to beach chairs and chandelier parts.
Artist Diane Jacobs found her muse in wasps, creating an entire exhibit inspired by their forms. “From the beginning, I was completely overwhelmed with possibility,” she said.
Mai Ide transformed traffic cones and discarded textiles into sculptural statements on identity and borders — all with a bit of whimsy. “These are the doormats,” she laughed, showing off a purse crafted from reclaimed materials. “I can use it as a bag… I can use it as a purse.”
The GLEAN residency began in San Francisco in 1990, launched by Recology, a resource recovery company. Portland was the first city to replicate the program, which is now a partnership between Recology, Metro (the region’s waste management agency), and ReClaim It, a nonprofit promoting reuse and creative waste reduction.
“It really proves one person’s trash is another’s masterpiece,” Mack said. “So many of the things we think we need really end up in the dump — treasured or not, unique or not.”
The GLEAN Exhibition runs through May 25 at 322 NW 8th Ave in Portland’s North Park Blocks. It’s free and open to the public Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m., or by appointment.
Glean Portland has more information about the event.