I Find Myself Again Teaching Upcycling...

Years ago--so long ago I can't remember if it was paid or volunteer work--I had a tiny, tiny job faciilitating a "recycled art" workshop for children and young adults at the Iowa Renewable Energy Association Exposition. At that time, in the early to mid aughts, the Expo was a yearly thing and I had a friend who was involved with it who asked me to be a part of it for about three years (thanks, Michelle!). I was always able to gather so much stuff to re-use that I don't think I needed to use much of the budget to acquire new things. I remember doing a weaving with a child on a cardboard loom at the Expo and a parent walked in and said something like "Bless your heart" because they thought I was doing something so difficult. Inside I thought, well, thanks, but this is the best. I love making things with people and creative reuse is absolutely the best of making things and advocating for a better world.

Yesterday I revisited my role as a teacher of creative reuse. I taught a group of interested people how to make mask chains to decorate their respirator masks. It was wonderful and I so appreciated the chance to teach and share the joy of creating beauty and access to public spaces for disabled and Covid-cautious people.

To get ready to teach, I made a practice chain. The charms I used are from old necklaces and earrings that I took apart. (The chain itself, and the findings, are from Beadology because I needed their help figuring out how to get started...thanks https://beadologyiowa.com/). I fumbled a lot at first because the jump rings (linking chains to charms and clasps) can be so fiddly, and are so small, that they would jump out of my hands at first (hence, jump rings). Some of the design was directed by what I was able to do rather than what I wanted to do. But in the end, I did aim for a slightly asymmetrical design because I like the balance-in-imbalance trick demonstrated in a lot of 80s clothing and jewelry.

I have gotten compliments from co-workers, friends, and a random stranger yesterday at the library. So, mask chains and creative reuse for the win! Thanks to the Disability Justice Study Group for the opportunity to share.