Recycled Arts Festival fetes old stuff put to new uses

• What: The ninth annual Recycled Arts Festival will feature 120 artists, information booths about recycling programs, music, entertainment and activities.

• When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 28, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 29.

• Where: Esther Short Park, 301 W. Eighth St.

• Admission: Free.

• Telephone: 360-397-2121 ext. 4352.

• Website: http://recycledartsfestival.com.

The Recycled Arts Festival doesn’t have an official theme, but it often has an unintentional one.

Every year a new trend seems to emerge, said Sally Fisher, an organizer and founder of the event.

“Two years ago it was like everybody took a welding class, there were so many welding artists,” Fisher said. “Last year it was mosaic art. This year it seems that everyone has taken up sewing. There’s a whole lot of clothing.”

There are at least 19 clothing vendors this year, with hats, baby tutus, shirts, jackets and other items made from recycled textiles or discarded clothing. And to complete the look there are at least 15 jewelry vendors with earrings, bracelets and other items made from bicycle spokes, old bottles and wristwatch parts.

“I think we really have a lot to offer,” Fisher said of the variety of artists.

The Clark County Department of Environmental Services launched the event nine years ago as a creative way to encourage and educate the public about waste reduction, reuse and recycling, but it started out very small.

“Oh we were having all these workshops on waste reduction and how to recycle, and about three people would show up,” Fisher said with a laugh. “So we decided to do something out of the box.”

The first year was sort of a dud. About 30 artists signed up and attendance was low.

“It was kind of dismal, but it started to grow each year,” Fisher said. “By the third year we knew it was going to stick.”

In 2011 the Recycled Arts Festival became the only Rose Festival-sanctioned event in Washington, which also caused a large boost in attendance that has continued and expanded, Fisher said.

Now it’s one of Vancouver’s biggest summer events. Last year, the 120 vendors drew 25,000 visitors to Esther Short Park, and this year there could be even more.

More than 200 artists applied for this year’s show, but organizers can only accept about 120 because of space.

“If some didn’t get in last year, we’ll look at them first for the next year,” Fisher said. “I wish I could have taken every single one. But we have a lot of new artists this year. We’re very excited about that.”

The only requirement at the show is that 75 percent of the content must be made from recycled materials. That and “it needs to be quality, but that’s very subjective,” Fisher said.

Some of this year’s artists will display mosaics made with old candy wrappers, clocks made with recycled vinyl records, jewelry made with old tools and belts made with recycled bike tires.

“There’s just so much creativity,” Fisher said.

The Department of Environmental Services spends about $25,000 each year on the festival, but about half of that is covered by Columbia Credit Union, other sponsors and booth fees.

“Has it improved recycling? That’s a hard thing to measure,” Fisher said. “But our recycling rates have definitely improved over the years. So I’d say it’s certainly contributed.”

The event, which is free to the public, will also have local food vendors, entertainment and workshops on how to make your own recycled arts.

“We just want to put on a really good show,” Fisher said. “Come to the festival. It’s a great time.”