Haroshi makes these crazy art pieces recycling old used skateboards. The most important style is the wooden mosaic; skateboards may seem like they’re all in the same shape, but actually, their structure varies according to the factory, brand and popular skaters’ signature models.

With his experience and almost crazy knowledge of skateboards, Haroshi is able to differentiate from thousands of used deck stocks, which deck fits with which when stacked.

After the decks are chosen and stacked, they are cut, shaven, and polished with his favorite tools. By coincidence, this creative style of his is similar to the way traditional wooden Japanese Great Buddhas are built. 90% of Buddha statues in Japan are carved from wood, and built using the method of wooden mosaic; in order to save expense of materials, and also to minimize the weight of the statue.

Hiroshi says : “I believe that if the small things we do can connect to sustainability then we’re doing something right. I’m satisfied in my effort when people look at products and start thinking of ways to recycle”.

Robert Bradford, an english artist born in London, began in 2004 experimenting with a series of sculptures which utilise plastic toys as their main modelling material, and which have now attracted consistent international attention. After trials with two unsatisfactory construction methods, he began screwing the toys into wooden armatures, which proved both strong and highly adaptable as a method.

“One day about four years ago out in the studio I was looking into my childrens box of outgrown / discarded toys which happened to be stored in the same building and responded to the random collection of colours shapes and forms they made. I figured that if I could find a way of putting them together to constitute a larger form they would have great potential as larger scale sculpture.”

“Some people of course just say they are rubbish which of course is perfectly true! Some find the sculptures beautiful/ curious/ scary/ weird/ emotional and etc. (which considering all they are really are , is bits of what is usually seen as trash) is great.”

He has exhibited widely and has work in public and private collections in England and America.

Amazing artist http://www.robertbradford.co.uk/

Japanese stylist Mita Shiniti has made sculptures Based on the theme of “Continuity” using Dunks (yes, the sneakers!): Shiniti uses Dunks to create costumes, furniture and art forms. Her work is part of a collection entitled “Tenki,” a solo exhibition that will be on display from now till May 12th, 2010 at the GALLERY SPEAK FOR in Tokyo.

Mita Shiniti “Tenki” Exhibition till May 12th 2010
GALLERY SPEAK FOR
〒 150-0033
28-2, Shibuya
Tokyo

Photography: Zach Pierce

Giovanni Scafuro is an italian artist who began to work in artisans shops where he learned and applied the art of these amazing manual trades to create complementary furnishings.

Daily use objects change image! He says “this is a change of route in object’s life, thanks to recycle and reuse concept”. His true love goes to forks and so he’ve created jewels and house furnishing reusing them.

Objects and materials are for Giovanni an inexhautible source of inspiration and life interpretation: his manufactoring is in continuous metamorphosis, indeed… in progress!

And now Have a look at Giovanni Scafuro’s website

RECYCLE EXPERIENCE was born from the willingness to make and redesign any kind of used stuffs, which their existence is not expected, become an expression media to convey the desire of explorating and inovating. Those ‘unexpected stuffs’, surround us into some Imagination Robotic Characters.

This 2 picts are just an example of what they can create re-using old stuff around. So to find out more simply have a look at RECYCLE EXPERIENCE’s blog and enjoy your green life!

“The idea of re-using tires & inner tubes was born in 2003 when a friend asked me to make an artistic frame” says Barbara, and with the great help of Annalisa, “Bubu” for friends, they started to make an hard, great and unique job.

From the attraction by and the attention to waste and junk they decided to keep the recycling concept up and, together with the “do it by yourself” idea, they invest time and money into create artistic products, moving far away from consumer world. They decided to called their new concept and activity “Ròde “.

In 2006 was born the first dress – showed on glamour magazine 2007 – and at the same time they’ve created the first animal sculpture, mostly through re-using tires & inner tubes.
Then was born the POSTATOMIXIRCUZ Group, so Barbara and Bubu started to join art events, surreal shows creating fantastic creatures where design, art and recycled materials came alive together.

At the same time they made an amazing fashion line for everyday life: bags, dresses, shoes, hats….

If you want to find out more have a look at postatomixircuz’s my space. To contact them please write to postatomixircuz@hotmail.it

“Our dream is to help the next generation look at “junk” with an eye to re-use. For the past three years, we’ve created and managed the Art in the Schools Bench Project funded by Cracked Pots. As a part of Art Literacy, students study assemblage art, look at pictures of junk, and create drawings of a bench. Inspired by these drawings, an artist is commissioned to create a bench for permanent display at the school.”

“The School Bus Bench ”
2006 Bench from Recycled Materials – Bridgeport Elementary School
by David Feldt

“Catch & Release ”
2007 Bench from Recycled Materials – Tualatin Elementary School
by David Feldt

“Kinnaman in Harmony – A Song of Sustainability”
2007 Bench from Recycled Materials – Kinnaman Elementary School
by Frank Roll Jr.

Tomakeyousmile wants to expand this program to give children the opportunity to participate in all aspects of the project: “We’d love to see older students involved in the making of the bench or creating other art from “junk”. “

To make a donation or find out all the details have a look at the tomakeyousmile’s blog and enjoy!

Recycled Into Art: “Ms. Sommerhoff is one of those artists who regard trash not as an eye sore but as a golden opportunity. One can see through the bright paint of her wall reliefs and recognize the plastic foam packing material, which forms the matrix for sculpture” writes the NY Times about Herrat.

About her ArtWorks she says: “The materials used in my art work come out of trash bins, from roadsides and the local dump. They were used in schools (milk cartons), businesses (styrofoam and cardboard) – for packing and storage, as well as in our homes. The materials are symbolic of our time, and I am utilizing it while it is still around and before something different will take their place in the future”.

We ca only add: amazing style, great talent.
Enjoy Ms. Sommerhoff’s website