Spin on Recycling
The Illustrated Garden: Val Webb’s Art Studio
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As the daughter of a writer, Webb spent her life surrounded by books. She’s always treasured books no matter the wear or age. Webb is a studio artist and illustrator who specializes in wildlife and botanical subjects. While on the hunt for the perfect sketchbook, she realized she could bind a sketchbook from her old books. Now, Webb visits yard sales and old book stores to collect unwanted or damaged books from 1904 to 1940 or later. Her sketchbooks include antique original pages and illustrations so that no two are ever the same. “It’s really important to remind people that you can think about objects you use every day in a different way and make them even more special,” Webb said. You can find Webb on Facebook and Instagram @IllustratedGarden.
LOCALS WHO UPCYCLE
by Gina Castro id you know that the average person generates more than four pounds of trash each day? Talk about a dumpster fire. The EPA estimates that 75 percent of American waste is recyclable but only 30 percent of it is recycled. Items that aren’t recyclable contribute to the growing landfills. Fortunately, the City of Pensacola offers curbside recycling. For a list of recyclable items, visit cityofpensacola.com/228/Recyclable-Items. However, recycling isn’t the only way you can reduce landfill waste. Upcycling is a creative way to reuse unwanted materials. First City Art Center (FCAC) is hosting Upcycled Art Bazaar, April 17 from 10 am to 3 pm, to inspire the community to reuse unwanted items creatively. “With Earth Day and Arbor Day falling in April, it’s important to remind people that the things that are around you—you can’t just throw them away,” FCAC Events Manager, Kelly Leitermann said. “Instead, think about what you can do with them. Think, can you donate them, who else could use them, before just throwing them in the dumpster and sending them to a landfill.” The community is able to donate certain unwanted items to FCAC, and FCAC will sell the items during the event to fundraise for their Youth Art Program Scholarship Fund. For a complete list of items FCAC will accept or to learn more about the event, visit firstcityart.org/product/artbazaar/. The Upcycled Art Bazaar will also feature vendors who create products or art from upcycled materials. Downtown Crowd spoke with artists in the area who use upcycled materials to create something new. 18 | DOWNTOWNCROWD.COM
Can-dles by Joe Local dad, Joe Snyder started a sustainable hobby just before COVID set in. Snyder and his wife love candles. One day, when Snyder was drinking a beer as he searched the web for more candles, he was struck with an idea: What if he turned his can of beer into a candle? On his first try, he was able to remove the top of the beer can with a can opener. He’s been pouring 100 percent soy based candles into upcycled containers ever since. “I feel good that, in a little over a year, there have been no cans or bottles that have left my house without there being a nice high-quality soy wax in them,” Snyder said. Customers can donate old bottles of wine, vintage beer cans or favorite containers, and Snyder can transform it into a candle. Some customers use it as decor, too. Can-dles by Joe offers dozens of scents. Some scents are made to smell like the container it is in, such as the whiskey scented candle in the Jack Daniels bottle. Snyder is interested in helping local businesses be more sustainable by upcycling their bottles and containers. Visit candlesbyjoe.com for more information.
