March 29, 2024

Building Art With Trash, Creativity and Skill

Jeff Errington artLab
Posted by Errington Builders
Leading Edge

Jeff Errington artLabIt was the first time Jeff Errington created a building supply list from trash. Not even his choice of trash. He worked with whatever trash a trio of women scavenged and lugged to Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center in Solomons Maryland.

Project floor plans were pictures and sometimes only ideas articulated by the trio. Their mission was to re-purpose a cafe into an interactive teaching lab combining art and the lessons of smarter waste handling.

The result was artLAB, a unique corner in the already unique Arts Building. The wainscoting is  wood from scavenged pallets as is the tall work desk. Shelving is made of reconfigured tables and instead of a bulletin board notes are slid between the slats of brightly painted shutters. Used guttering holds supplies and thousands of bottle tops have built a mural across the end of the lab.

Errington Builders build artLABThe idea that became artLAB came initially from Jaimie Jeffrey, Curator of Public Programs. Joined by Robyn Strayer, Exhibits and Programs  and Joanne Paskoff the trio were ready to approach a builder in early 2011.

A green builder with more than 30 years of custom home design and construction in Southern Maryland, Errington Builders accepted the challenge. On his first day, he found pallets piled on the floor and just the beginning of a barrage of ideas from the trio. As the ideas piled up, Errington Builders found new ways to make old supplies work differently.

Visiting artLAB after its first year, Mr. Errington recalled that his usual response to the new ideas coming at him would be, “Let me think about it.” And then, with two long-time associates, they built it.

 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptnfhx7PmhE]

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