Freeport Art Gallery Transforms Waste into Creative Masterpieces

A Freeport art gallery is set to showcase creativity born from discarded materials through an upcoming fashion show and art exhibition. Meetinghouse Arts, in collaboration with Sidle House Gallery, will host the “Recollected and Reconfigured Runway” at 18:00 on October 17, 2023, at 20 Bartol Island Road. The event is sold out and will feature clothing designs by local artist and designer Mandana MacPherson, who specializes in repurposed materials.

Alongside MacPherson, artist Crystal Cawley will present her work, which incorporates paper, textiles, and other recycled objects. Following the fashion show, an exhibition titled “From Waste to Wonder: Reclaimed Art and Design” will open with a reception on October 23, remaining accessible to the public until November 2, 2023. This exhibition will include the works of environmental artist Pamela “Posey” Moulton and sculptor Ian Trask, as well as MacPherson’s fashion designs.

Suzanne Watson, executive director of Meetinghouse Arts, emphasized the transformative power of art in sustainability. “Having worked in environmental policy for many years, I’ve seen how often the conversation is framed by limits,” Watson noted. “These artists turn that conversation on its head, showing us that sustainability can be about imagination, joy, and possibility.”

Moulton, whose work is featured prominently in the “From Waste to Wonder” exhibition, expressed her enthusiasm for the event. She aims to showcase how discarded materials can be reimagined, a theme she has explored with her “Pinkies” sculptures, currently displayed outside the Freeport Town Office. These sculptures are designed to ignite conversations about art and the potential of reuse.

“I get Instagram messages and posts from people all over the world who are visiting Freeport,” Moulton shared. “Everyone has had a little personal anecdote to share about their relationship to the sculptures.” Moulton’s contribution to the exhibition includes wall art created from unraveled dogfish nets, alongside smaller pieces dubbed pink cameos, echoing the design of her Pinkies sculptures.

The dogfish net material, enough to fill an entire garden shed, was generously provided by a fisherman in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Additionally, Moulton sources other netting from the Gulf of Maine Lobster Foundation, which collects debris during beach cleanups.

MacPherson’s work for the exhibition features knitwear and felted fabrics made from reclaimed wool, some of which originated from unfinished projects by her late mother, who passed away from Alzheimer’s disease. “I am excited to have a full body of work to show,” MacPherson remarked, highlighting the personal connections woven into her creations.

The fashion show will also include an interactive element, with a material exchange station where attendees can take inner tubes and learn how to repurpose them into new items via QR codes. MacPherson’s journey with reclaimed materials began during her college years at Brown University in 1984, when an ink spill on her leather bag motivated her to innovate with rubber materials.

In addition to MacPherson’s work, Trask will showcase large glass installations made from blister packaging for vegetables. As a graduate of Bowdoin College with a background in biology, Trask’s artistic vision transforms waste materials into compelling visual statements. “We all work with such different materials, so it’d be very interesting to see how three different artists use completely different materials and how they are transformed,” Moulton noted.

The collaborative efforts of these artists not only highlight the potential for creativity in sustainability but also invite the community to engage with art that speaks to environmental consciousness. As the events unfold, they promise to inspire conversations about innovation and the possibilities that arise when waste is given a new lease on life.