The Art of ReUse: Turning Trash Into Great Art Pieces

As residents of Laguna Beach, we are fortunate to be surrounded by world-renowned artists and galleries. Artists by nature are creative, which is why many of them are incorporating reuse into their work.

The concept of reuse includes both using an item again for its original function, as well as using it for a brand new function. With reuse, artists can add a whole new dimension to their work by taking an old object and breathing new life into it. 

Aaron Kramer is a sculptor who works primarily with reclaimed materials. His motto is “Trash is the failure of imagination.” With this motto as his guiding force, he takes found objects and reinvents the purpose behind them. An example of this can be seen in his work fashioned out of street sweeper bristles. After acquiring the bristles as scrap from a company that re-bristles used brooms, he weaves them over frameworks of thin wire that he then welds into intriguing organic forms.

A company called Rebound Books is using the idea of reuse to give discarded books a chance to start a new chapter in life. The Australian company keeps old books out of landfills by transforming them into charming and one-of-a-kind journals, calendars and photo albums.

The reuse of materials is also gaining popularity in interior design. Designers are seeking out furniture, architectural pieces and hardware that they can restore, reuse and reinvent.

So in the spirit of reuse, next time you’re holding an old coffee stirrer, challenge yourself to see beyond what it is and think about what it could become ...