Victoria artist Beverly Hancock used to paint a painting and be done. But now, she cuts it up. And then, she weaves it into something new.

Karen Guilbault gathers pine needles B次元官网网址� sometimes sheB次元官网网址檒l even politely ask city removal not to rake over a spot. She then patiently bundles and weaves them into intricate baskets.

Award-winning fibre artist Martina Edmondson now makes whimsical creations out of nature foragings.

These women are all established artists riding the waves of a rising tide: the growing trend of repurposed art. Essentially, itB次元官网网址檚 using found or existing objects to create something entirely new.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a huge trend in the world, but the biggest trend is to use garbage and reuse things that we donB次元官网网址檛 think are beautiful,B次元官网网址� Hancock said. B次元官网网址淎nd to try to make something that no oneB次元官网网址檚 ever seen before out of something you would usually throw out.B次元官网网址�

In February, another B次元官网网址榬epurposedB次元官网网址� artist from Victoria, driftwood sculptor Tanya Bub, was at an international exposition of repurposed art in Qatar called the Tadweer Art Exhibition. The exhibit merged the worlds of art and environmental consciousness, stated to be a testament to QatarB次元官网网址檚 commitment to sustainability.

For artists who approach art through this lens, the draw lies in reconnecting with the natural world while relinquishing control and embracing spontaneity.

B次元官网网址淚 start with something that I find really interesting,B次元官网网址� Edmondson said of her diverse pieces, which include collage, sculpture and eco printing (using natural materials to dye paper with earthy tones and create imprints). B次元官网网址淚 might think, oh, maybe this looks a little bit like a face or this could be an eagle. And then my imagination takes a flight.B次元官网网址�

She also does embroidery, but, B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not pretty embroidery. I guess I donB次元官网网址檛 do pretty very well. Or, I donB次元官网网址檛 find it pretty.B次元官网网址�

Pretty isnB次元官网网址檛 the point when approaching art in this manner. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e making it for yourself. And I think that comes with age,B次元官网网址� Edmondson said.

Hancock, an expressionist and figurative artist who finds it B次元官网网址渆xhilaratingB次元官网网址� to rip up and re-imagine her paintings into new works, agreed this is a new era of art-making for her. B次元官网网址淚t is really interesting to see how artistsB次元官网网址� work changes as their situation in life changes.B次元官网网址�

A growing eco-consciousness in the arts community

While repurposed art has always been around, all three artists said theyB次元官网网址檝e seen it growing in popularity, all part of a growing eco-consciousness.

B次元官网网址淚 think with the way climate change is going, there will be more and more emphasis on, what are we using? What are we doing to the environment?B次元官网网址� Edmondson said.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not saying everybodyB次元官网网址檚 there, but, you know, I have a big following online. ItB次元官网网址檚 a very big topic,B次元官网网址� Hancock said.

B次元官网网址淢any, many artists would say, B次元官网网址楾hereB次元官网网址檚 no paper towel in my studio. IB次元官网网址檓 using rags.B次元官网网址� So if you canB次元官网网址檛 do everything, youB次元官网网址檙e trying to do something, right? And I think every artist is sharing that information with each other.B次元官网网址�

Guilbault primarily uses pine needles to create her baskets. But she also paints stones to feature in the centre of these baskets, and once sheB次元官网网址檚 done painting, she wipes her palette so the paint doesnB次元官网网址檛 go down the drain.

B次元官网网址淵ou see how we are all thinking about it,B次元官网网址� Hancock said. B次元官网网址淲hen I went to art school, what a squiggle of time ago, in the 1970s, nobody talked about that. There wasnB次元官网网址檛 a single person in the art world that had ever even discussed, what do we do with this paint? Is it bad for the world?B次元官网网址�

Experience repurposed art

While the artists just wrapped up a group exhibit at Gage Gallery in March, Beverly Hancock will be exhibiting at Gage again April 2-14 with RAW: Unveiled Layers, which delves into the raw experiences that shape the human condition.

If you are interested in this type of artwork you can also check out art by Gerhard B盲r, Martha Haversham, Michelle Reader, Wim Delvoye and Yuken Teruya.

But Hancock, Guilbault and Edmondson would probably also encourage you to try it out for yourself.

B次元官网网址淚t is magical. After you get going, you go, B次元官网网址業 could have never thought of thatB次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� Hancock said.