Artists, artisans, and creative people with ‘Green’ hearts…
I was over at the Buffalo ReUse warehouse last week and picked up an item that will be the basis for my entry in the Buffalo ReUse, October 18th ReArt exhibit opening and 1st anniversary party. In order to promote awareness of artistic ways to use salvaged building material, Buffalo ReUse is organizing a gallery exhibit and sale at Gallery 141B in Allentown. Artists, artisans, and all creative people are invited to produce a piece for the event.
I’ve got a pole that I’m seeing as a potential floor lamp. I’ll have to go back to the warehouse to see about material for the shade and something like a glass knob for the finial on top. I don’t have a clear idea yet of what I’m doing, but there seems to be enough websites that explain it.
Another entry in the exhibit is expected from Sherry Burns, Art Director for WGRZ-TV. She was one of the first respondents to the announcement of the exhibit on the Buffalo ReUse website. Years ago she had been able to salvage a few things from her grandmother’s home and made them into beautiful objects that she uses every day. After seeing a couple pictures of those projects, I asked her to give me an idea of what was involved in making her table and headboard.
“I had these doors from my grandmother’s house,” Sherry said. “They were among the very few things weren’t stolen before the house on Glenwood and Welker was torn down. I came up with idea for the table and happened to be in need of a dining room table at the time. So, with the help of my brother, Bryant, the idea came to life. My original plan was to use copper tile for the top, but after pricing it out, I had to go to plan B. I ordered the tiles from the Tile Shoppe. The vitreous glass tile is from Oceanic and the copper accent tiles are from Walker Zanger.
“The door needed to be stripped and stained. We used Bix stripper and my favorite tool–the orange handled scraper. It has a carbon blade that is kind of hard to find. The base of the table is from an old console that my aunt gave me. The top had been used as a workbench, so there was no guilt about cutting it off. We laid eighth-inch underlay in the panels with the tile on top of that. The copper molding was bent on a hand brake and attached with liquid nails and small tacks. Colored glass gems fill the two holes where the lock was removed. The final product was exactly as I had envisioned it. In fact, I liked it so much that it inspired me to make a headboard out of the other door.”
Entry submissions for the exhibit are due by September 29
The Buffalo ReUse warehouse is located at 459 Ellicott Street in downtown Buffalo, right next to the Washington Market. They are open for sales only Sunday 11 AM to 4 PM or by appointment.
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