At ReBuilding Center, equity, accessibility, home repair education, and waste reduction are pillars of climate justice. But what holds us together is our culture of scrappiness and joy in what we do. Creative reuse, be it in art, craft, or design, is a reflection of this ethos, of our belief that sustainable living can be fun as well as responsible. Play sets our minds free to explore and innovate, and what is art and design but a perpetual re-visioning of the world in which we live. Creative reuse is about connecting with reclaimed materials in a new way, but even more, it is about reclaiming a future we hope to share.
This summer, ReBuilding Center is pleased to announce Shed Talks, our creative reuse in design seminar series. Shed Talks aims to inspire, engage, and inform Portland community members about the intersection between sustainability and art. The series will feature creatives from across multiple disciplines, including carpentry, fine art, architecture, urban design, interior design, and landscaping. These speakers will discuss their practice as it relates to creative reuse, re-contextualizing our understanding of waste and consumption and recognizing used items as possibilities rather than trash.
Shed Talks' premiere event will host reuse artist, Curtis Reid Henderson. Curtis is a multimedia artist and craftsperson based in Portland, Oregon. Utilizing found, salvaged, and reclaimed materials, his work questions the “material conditions brought about by decades of forged reliance on consumerism.” Henderson also works as ReBuilding Center's lead instructor, teaching classes about tool use, home maintenance, carpentry, and more!
Join us September 1st, at 6:30pm, to learn more about Curtis’ passion for creative reuse in and outside of his practice. Event registration can be accessed on our website at www.rebuildingcenter.org/shed-talks. Admission is free with a suggested donation for those who are capable. We look forward to seeing you soon!