This year, local students are taking a creative approach to recycling. In anticipation of the 6th annual America Recycles Day on November 15th, students at schools throughout Chittenden County are busy designing and creating their own art quilts. An art quilt is a non-traditional, fabric based wall hanging. For this project, students are encouraged to incorporate used materials. The students' quilts will be displayed at two venues in the coming months. A grand opening will take place at Recycle North on America Recycles Day (November 15). ReCycle North is the home of the Artcycle Center where students obtained many of the materials for their art quilts. In December, the exhibit will move to Burlington City Art's Metropolitan Gallery, located in City Hall. Both exhibits are open to the public. There is no admission fee.

The Artcycle Art Quilt Project is sponsored by ReCycle North, Burlington City Arts, and the Chittenden Solid Waste District. On October 3rd, artist Jude Bond offered a free workshop to show teachers how modern techniques can be incorporated into the traditional concept of quilting. Ten enthusiastic, creative teachers attended the workshop, ranging from high school art teachers to pre-school instructors. “The class was great!” notes Bond. “We can't wait to see what the students will create.”

Many of the materials used for the art quilts were obtained from the Artcycle Center, a new space in ReCycle North that opened in January 2001. The Artcycle Center, a collaboration between ReCycle North and Burlington City Arts, is home to a constantly changing supply of surplus materials from individuals and local businesses that are perfect for making recycled art. Some examples of items commonly found at the Artcycle Center include: fabric scraps from Burlington Futon Company, stock photo magazines from JDK Design, wood scraps from Beeken and Parsons, wallpaper sample books from Bard Home Decorating, mat board from Monstream Studios, cardboard mailing tubes from Conant Custom Brass, and more!

To learn more about the Artcycle Art Quilt Project, please contact Jude Bond at 865-7554. The opening reception will be held on November 15th (America Recycles Day) from 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm at ReCycle North, 266 Pine St. in Burlington. The public is invited to attend.

This is the 6th annual America Recycles Day, which is a nationwide event designed to raise people's awareness of recycling. Recycling is a great way to help conserve resources, save energy, and reduce pollution. To learn more about America Recycles Day, visit www.americarecyclesday.org.

List of schools/groups represented at the Artcycle Art Quilt Workshop on October 3rd

Jacqueline Zisso, after school program K-5 - Lawrence Barnes School, Burl.
Fran Huntoon, 5th & 6th grade - The School House, Burl.
Karen Rosenthal, 3rd & 4th grade - The School House, Burl.
Tamara Haynes, Preschool - YMCA, Burl.
Chris Thompson, preschool - Ascension Child Care, So. Burl.
Carrie Diehl, High School - Pine Ridge School, Williston
Meghan Phillips, 3rd grade - Wheeler School, Burl.
Suzanne Richards, Carpenter Carse Library, Hinesburg
Donna McDermid, Preschoolers playgroup, Burl.
Marilyn Maddison, neighborhood home school group, Burl.