The Carnegie Arts Center will present Reclaimed: The Art of Recology, an exhibition of artwork that has been created from discarded materials, encouraging viewers to perceive “trash” in a new light.

Thirty-two artists who have participated in a unique Artist-in-Residence program have transformed an array of unexpected cast-off materials into artwork. From innovative furniture design, paper making, and costumes to quilting, sculpture, collage, and even a few paintings, there is something to be learned and enjoyed by visitors of all ages. The exhibition will be on view from Sept. 24 through Dec. 28 in the CAC’s Ferrari Gallery.

Recology is San Francisco’s 47-acre Recycling and Transfer Center, where detritus from all over the city is sorted, recovered, and processed. This metropolis of junk, otherwise known as “the dump,” is home to one of the Bay Area’s most coveted Artist-in-Residence (AIR) programs. Operating with the belief that art plays a unique role in educating and inspiring the public, Recology offers emerging and established Bay Area artists an opportunity to make artwork from San Francisco’s unwanted materials. Armed with safety gear and a shopping cart, artists have scavenging privileges in the Public Reuse and Recycling Area—what the artists refer to as “The Big Store.”

Since the founding of the AIR program in 1990, over 150 professional artists and 50 student artists have completed residencies, making art from scavenged materials. By offering this rare opportunity to make artwork with materials retrieved from the dump, Recology hopes to empower communities to conserve natural resources. Additionally, the AIR program is driven by a mission to amplify the voices of systematically marginalized populations, offer a community space for learning, and host a public education program that inspires children and adults to reimagine their role in creating a just and sustainable world by reducing their consumption habits.

Upon seeing the wide range of work that has come out of this program, it is clear there is no one way to create art from recycled material.

“You might expect to find work that speaks directly to environmental concerns, but the works in this exhibition are more nuanced. These artists cover a wide range of ideas and concerns,” said CAC Director and Curator Lisa McDermott.

 Some of the artists are inspired by nostalgia and approach the dump like detectives or archaeologists uncovering untold stories; others are inspired by the process of transformation and describe the experience as a kind of alchemy—turning previously unwanted materials into precious new objects. McDermott adds that, while educational, their approaches are not heavy handed.

“Many of these creative folks incorporate humor into their work as a friendly way to start discussions around complex issues. Instead of doom and gloom warnings, this Recology exhibition takes the approach that art can be an incredible force in changing hearts and minds, sparking dialogue about ways to support and protect the environment,” she said.

For more information about upcoming programs and events related to the exhibit, visit carnegieartsturlock.org.