Solar Fiesta!

This weekend the New Mexico Solar Energy Association is hosting the annual Solar Fiesta at the Albuquerque Academy.  Going on it’s twelfth year, the Solar Fiesta is a 2-day (Saturday and Sunday) renewable energy fair featuring exhibits and workshops.  Indoor and outdoor demonstrations and workshops will cover solar ovens, solar cars, wind energy, rainwater catchment, sustainable building materials like bamboo, permaculture, sustainable vegetable gardening, beekeeping, and more.

Bring the Little Ones!  The Girl Scouts of NM Trail Council will have plenty of activities for children including riding a bicycle that produces energy, munching on solar baked cookies, racing solar remote controlled model cars, and a scavenger hunt.

Solar Fiesta!
8/26 and 8/27, 10am to 5pm
at Albuquerque Academy
Exhibit grounds are free with a $5 per car parking fee
Workshops: weekend pass is $25 or daily pass is $15
Click here for maps and more information.

If you can’t make it to the Solar Fiesta, just start by hanging your clothes to dry outside on a line :)

~R

My Love Affair With Recycled Art

the flowers my husband bought for me

The cliché you always hear is ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.’  I don’t know who coined this phrase, but I would guess that the person who said this had no idea how unconventionally true this statement has become.  With the current trend of being ‘green’ and recycling just about everything, creative people everywhere are making beautiful art pieces.

I just love recycled art, it is one of those things that tugs at my heart.  When I look at recycled art I am always impressed at how creative people can be and especially my husband, who, to my knowledge had no artistic ability what so ever.  This is how I discovered his artsy side…

I was complaining to my husband one day that he never buys me flowers and in fact, in the 11 years that we have been married he had only bought me flowers twice.  His response to my complaint was, ‘It’s a waste of money because they just die anyways.’  I scrunched my nose and eyes at him and after thinking about it, I had to agree that he was right.  One day, he surprised me with my Nambe vase filled with recycled tin flowers that he bought in Seattle that someone had made.  This was the first recycled are piece I had ever seen — much less owned.

This started a love affair and now recycled art can be seen in my home and around my yard.  Here are a few of the things my husband has made for me.  Do you have recycled art in your home?  Did you  make it yourself?  Send us some pics of your recycled art.

S

a spider

a butterfly

Recycled Art = Fun, Fun, Fun

On Saturday we ventured over to the Open Space off Coors between Paseo Del Norte and Montano for the third annual Recycled Art Fair.  There were plenty of cars upon our arrival and not to mention a few of you rode your bikes.

The surroundings were gorgeous and the people were friendly just like I had anticipated.  There was plenty of recycled art to be found here.  There were paintings that had been painted on kitchen cabinets, found canvas, plywood and other found objects.

 There were interesting solar lights  and fun whimsical metal dragon flies, insects and birds.  The beautiful handmade furniture pieces made from reclaimed wood were amongst my favorite.  This event was very kid friendly, with a lot of activities for children to make their own recycled art pieces.

Wildlife Tree Trunk Carving

There were also demonstrations about composting and recycling.  It was very educational and I think there was a little something for everyone at  the art fair.  The Open Space building is fairly new and the atmosphere overlooks pastures and the Bosque.  If you haven’t been there yet go and take a look.  I promise you won’t be disappointed!

S