Group LANDFILLART Reclamation Project

Group LANDFILLART Reclamation Project


The Project

The Arts Council of Williamson County (ACWC) is actively working with Ken Marquis, founder of Landfillart.org, an international artist reclamation project. Landfillart is an international effort encompassing one-thousand-forty-one (1,041) artists to claim a piece of rusted metal refuse and create fine art. Originally intended for submissions by individual artists, the Arts Council is proposing a group reclamation project. Ken Marquis is very excited and supportive at the potential magnitude of our group effort. Our goal is to be the largest group represented in the reclamation project.

The Concept

The 1,041 pieces of rusted metal are actually old automobile hub caps from the 1930's through the 1970's. Each hub cap, after moderate cleaning, is affectionately called a "metal canvas." Although most "metal canvases" have been transformed by the artist using oil or acrylic paint, some have been weaved on, glued, screwed or welded to, or made into fine sculpture.

Ken's ultimate goals of this project are twofold. The first is to compile a book with the story and photos of the evolution of landfillart.org and the coming together of 1041 artists for a common cause, making great art out of rusted refuse. Only artists could lead such a charge. All submitted hub caps would be included in the book. The other goal is to select 200 of these metal canvases to travel and inspire other such movements. Although the project is in its infancy, Ken hopes to have it completed by 2012.

Exhibit

Prior to sending the hub caps back to Ken, the Arts Council would like to put the entire show on display in Williamson County. Ken is very encouraged by our efforts to show these works to our community as the ultimate project goal is to publicly portray the global art community's effort to positively impact the environment through repurposing previous metal waste into great landfillart. ACWC has secured at least one location and working on a possible second location. Ken has specified a date that he would like all the hub caps returned to him so we will have to move fast, especially if we would like to have a mini-traveling show of our own before returning the hub caps.

Here's how it works

If you would like to participate, please let us know if you are interested before May 8 (you must be a current ACWC member @ May 8 to participate). We will be ordering the hub caps on May 11th and will not be able to add to the order once it is placed. There is a $10 non-refundable application fee to help offset (ACWC) incurred expenses. Distribution of hub caps to the artists should begin June 1 and end no later than June 19 (assuming we get them prior to June 1). If the hub cap is meant to be displayed hanging, the artist must incorporate the hanging mechanism on the back of the hub cap. All hub caps must be returned to ACWC by July 31 (instructions to follow if you are participating).


We hope you will consider being a part of this environmentally historic event.

http://www.artscouncilwc.org/