Prime Time Monthly | Page 16

16
April 2017

Trash Masters To Benefit Open Space

By Martin Frentzel

Albuquerque ‘ s Solid Waste Management Division estimates the city generates an average of more than 1,800 tons of trash daily . Fortunately , it doesn ’ t all go to waste .

“ There are artists out there doing great things with your garbage ,” says Kenny Chavez , who happens to be one of them .
Chavez started creating art from trash in the 1990s . He exhibits at Masks Y Mas , a store he manages in Nob Hill ; at the Contemporary Hispanic Art Market in Santa Fe during the summer ; and at the Recycle Santa Fe Art Festival held before Christmas .
This spring , Chavez and his husband , David Fisher , are helping the City of Albuquerque ’ s Open Space Division produce and promote its annual Recycled Art Fair from 10 a . m . to 4 p . m . April 29-30 at the Open Space Visitors Center , 6500 Coors NW .
A TWO-DAY SHOW Chavez describes his work as themed retablos or wall-hangings made from tins , cans and bottle caps that once contained cookies , candies , crackers , or soda . For 10 years , Chavez produced the Cinco de Mayo Folk Art & Music Festival . The show floated through artists ’ neighborhoods until landing at Farm & Table in the North Valley for several years .
Two years ago he participated at the Open Space center ’ s recycling fair , and this year he and Fisher , the promoter of the couple , teamed up with Open Space to grow the fair .
“ Parking was becoming a problem at Farm & Table ,” Chavez says , “ and we wanted to make this a two-day event .”
He anticipates 40 artists will participate . Several bands and Chavez ’ s signature contests should boost attendance . The watermelon seed spitting contest is set for 1:45 April 29 , and the Flashy and Trashy Pet Costume Contest is set for 1:45 p . m . April 30 .
Kenny Chavez creates Tin Men with bottle caps . Photo courtesy of Kenny Chavez
Schools participating in the youth art market at the Open Space event are Bosque School , Cien Aguas International School , South Valley Academy and Washington Middle School . The Open Space Alliance , Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge , Wemagination and Splash Trash Tour will be on hand to make the event instructive and beneficial for students .
“ The beautiful recycled art helps people see there are options to putting trash into the landfill ,” says Kent Swanson , manager of the Open Space Visitor Center . “ But this event also is related to our outreach campaign for letting people know it ’ s not OK to dump trash on our Open Space properties .”
THE BEAT GOES ON
In all , the City of Albuquerque owns more than 30,000 acres of public land along the outskirts
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of the city , from the volcanoes on the west to the Sandia Mountain foothills on the east . “ Historically , a lot of trash and debris accumulated on these properties , and our continued vigilance is needed to educate the public that these public lands are managed for recreation and wildlife habitat ,” Swanson says .
Throughout the year Open Space organizes volunteer clean-up campaigns for the Rio Grande and trails across the City ’ s properties . There is a City ordinance against dumping trash on the open space . Individuals who have supplies they believe could be recycled as art should consider donating them to Off Center ( 808 Park Ave . SW ) or Art Street ( 1217 First St . NW ), two non-profit art-based community organizations .
Chamizal MacPherson at Off
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