Green Time, Talent and Treasure

By Elizabeth Shugg

Transform Trash Into Treasure

Calling all artists, architects and design professionals 18 years or older: University Mall wants you to start digging through recycle bins for trashy treasures! Why? The mall’s juried, inaugural Scrapel Hill Art Contest takes place April 2-June 28, 2009.

As noted in our previous blog entry, mall management is looking for 20 artists who can transform recycled products into prize-winning works of art. Chosen works will feature 2D and 3D works from clean scrap and non-recyclable materials. Three top place winners will be announced during a gala ceremony April 23 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Before you start, you’ll need recyclable materials to create your masterpiece. Carolina Closets Plus in Chapel Hill is building a 100-percent green pantry in their Raleigh showroom, and owner Mike Hoffer is looking for an artist to take the leftovers off his hands to bring the green process full circle. Here are a few other local businesses and organizations that may have recycled products you can use:

Bikas Builders of North Carolina, LLC

Anchorage Solar Green Building Team

Search the N.C. Green Building Database to find additional local green builders here.

UNC-CH

Local grocery stores, such as Weaver Street Market, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.

Specialty stores like A Southern Season.

Don’t miss this chance to transform trash into treasure. The contest’s installation schedule will be by appointment March 29-31. Contact University Mall at info@universitymallnc.com for more details.

Artist Steve Gerberich’s work exemplifies “Scrapel Hill” art. His Santa and His Flying Reindeer exhibit is now appearing in a University Mall windowscape and will be featured in the 2ndfriday ArtWalk on Dec. 12 along with the annual Wild Horses windowscape at Turning Point Gallery and the Festival of Trees, an annual University Mall charity event that supports The Arc of Orange County.

Also, be sure to check out more of Gerberich’s recycled holiday art at the Museum of Life and Science through Jan. 5. “Gerberich's Gadgetry: Art That Moves and Holiday Springs and Sprockets” returns with all new holiday-themed mechanical sculptures made from old-fashioned kitchen appliances, machine parts and pop culture collectibles cleverly transformed into motorized reindeer, candy cane making machines, mobile holiday cookie bakers, egg nog makers, Santa, his reindeers and more.

All in Green Time

Turning Point Gallery recently followed University Mall's lead by welcoming work from another green artist, Michael Mertes. Mertes crafted his “In Stone Time” clocks out of salvaged and recycled materials, such as a Chinese Slate and Quaking Aspen struck by lightning, or an Indian Slate and White Pine salvaged during an 1893 church remodel. These clocks make eclectically beautiful gifts for the discriminating family members or friends on your holiday list. Click here for images and ordering information.

Clean and Green

Vacuum Cleaner Hospital in Chapel Hill now offers a GREENGUARD-certified product called the Bona Hardwood Floor Refresher. This specially formulated waterborne urethane maintenance coating spruces up unwaxed, polyurethane finished wood floors that are dull, scratched, or show signs of wear. Because GREENGUARD-tested products from the Bona Environmental Choice System™(ECS) are certified for indoor air quality, they contain dust effectively and produce no harmful fumes.

“I’ve used the product myself and it makes the floors look like new AND it’s very easy to apply and get great results,” says Vacuum Cleaner Hospital Owner Tom Proctor.
The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute establishes standards and testing for indoor products with a goal to improve public health by helping manufacturers build safer products. Learn more here.

Pete Bikas, owner of Durham-based Bikas Building of North Carolina, LLC (http://www.bikasbuilding.com), is doing his part to improve public health as well by using low VOC (Volitable Organic Compounds) products when building medical clinics, labs and wellness facilities. VOCs help keep the air clean and fresh.

Check back next month for another round up of green solutions. As a new resident of Chapel Hill, our mission is to connect you with our region’s bountiful supply of green ambition.