From Trash to Treasure

Introducing ART FOR HOUSEWIVES - a recycling blog
This is a blog review. It also explains how I was drawn into blogs and blogging, and how I consequently got BAD. (According to Nick Smith I may suffer from "Blogging Addiction Disorder"?). Explaining is always a detour; but so what! I'm really good at making a short story long. Another disorder perhaps? So here it comes:

Because I needed to find better ways to transfer images onto..? anything, I went on a googling spree.
Through many tours and detours, I stumbled across Jen Worden's blog; I liked what I saw and read, then started checking out her links. One link was "Art for housewives". My bookmark reveals I've been reading it since January 2004.

Reading, is perhaps not the word; browsing. Browsing led to reading and more link-checking and subsequently more reading again. But it was a one-way experience and finally I couldn't stand my non-existence anymore, net-wise I mean. Alors, I started blogging and got really BAD.

I still vividly remember stumbling across "Art for housewives" thinking;  "HOUSEWIVES! - oh, come on, who's a housewife?....."  and then; "Yeah, well, I guess I'm one, so let me see..." And I'm so glad I did. But at first I had no idea what hit me.  - Because that's what it does; this HITS you:

A brick-pink page with blue, red and purple text opens. Then you realise there are also different fonts in different sizes, all peppered with links and photos.

Completely confusing but also utterly intriguing. All those links - what's behind them? I had to check, and then I was hooked. The links were like tempting wrapped sweets - i opened one after another - just one more, and one, and another and.... oops, I was late for picking up the kids.....

Your fault, Cynthia Korzekwa, but you're forgiven! 
She's the driving force behind all this. She says "Make art not trash!" - she herself does.  Above, an embroidered piece and detail by Cynthia: "She added to his collection"
But let me finish describing the blog. There's so much information; about artists, about crafters, about recycling, about ecological projects and much, much more. It seems endless. Of course all isn't art as such, but there are artful ideas and creative projects. A quite remarkable collection of information, comments and links. Below from Cynthia's photo portfolio. I just love this one.

I'll let Cynthia tell you how it started;
"You know I began ART FOR HOUSEWIVES because I am truly worried about the environmental situation.  And mainly because of my children and potential grandchildren.  I mean, I didn't raise my kids just to have them die of thirst because there's no water left because some slobs had to overdose on consuming this planet's natural resources. For two years I researched via internet and books anything related to making art using second hand materials (the best ideas come from third world countries).
The results are in a graphic book I wrote called Arte per Massaie (Italian for art for housewives)  that should be published at the end of March. 
What I really  wanted to do is to devise projects using household trash to make, you know, functional art.  Two times functional because you not only make something useful, you also help clean up the environment as well.  Having taught in highschools, I know that the mechanical aspect of creating, for some people, is easier than the conceptual aspect.  Handwork is, for often, easier than head work.  Like paint-by-numbers."

The more I see, the more I wonder how she handles all this? What kind of energy-phenomenon is this lady?
Cynthia herself, is an artist, that I know. And her web sites are as intense and rich as the housewifeart thingy. They're not just full of art, but of thoughts, reflections, words and definitions and quirky ways of putting things. Like these mad cartoon-like pictures that make complete sense when you read the text.

While I write this I'm just checking some of her work links, and I find other pages with Cynthia's art that I haven't found before - like the "Cardboard Retabolos". There's still a link to a page called "she just wanted to blend in", started in 2001 and ended in 2005. But the pages are there and the links work.

As does the whole concept - it really works. But you have to have some time on your hands, to sit down and really dig into it, or bookmark links to save for later. Bookmark straight away, is my advice. You may think you'll be able to come back and find something again, that may take more time than you expect; it's so vast!

I have noticed that I hardly buy glossy magazines any more. Now i bookmark blogs and web pages, saving them for a rainy day, for curling up with a warm cup and a good read!
Thanks to people like Cynthia Korzekwa and lots of others, that is possible, and it's more than just a good substitute.
Sorry, glossy publishers!  You sell, but Cynthia and her likes, they share.... Beat that!

All photos courtesy of Cynthia Korzekwa

 

Comments

[healingmagichands]

Oh dear, oh dear. I came across a comment you made at Charlotte's Web and clicked on your name. Now I am stuck here, stuck in admiration of the images I am seeing. Thank you so much for this little window into the world of art that you know about. I love textiles, and paper. I enjoy doing collages with my collection of beautiful papers, but don't do it nearly often enough. If I was not so busy being a massage therapist and taking care of my garden, maybe I would play with the artistic side of my brain more. I will bookmark this blog, so I can come here and torture myself, and inspire myself a little.

[cynthia korzekwa]

Tittin, I am truly moved by such a wonderful review of my blog. Today I will do something special for someone in your honor.
You've made me smile, thanks.
Cynthia

[Tittin]

Thank you, healing magic hands.
From reading your "about" it sounds like you've been busy turning your life and surroundings into art. Wish you were living around the corner so I could benefit from all the wonderful therapies you offer.
If you want to see other healing hands that make collages, click on the "My friend Agnes" link under websites. Looking forward to further reading of your blog.
Tittin

Cynthia,
You deserve to smile, a long smile.
Tittin

[Charlotte]

Great post, Tittin. I'm amazed by how satisfying blogging has turned out to be. I've bought TWO glossy magazines this year (very few compared to my usual consumption), and found them so dull compared to the stunning stuff I read online every day, that I put them down almost unread. Viva the blogging revolution, viva!

Now I need to go and bookmark Cynthia ...