A little less trash litters the streets of Allison Hill these days, thanks to creativity, passion for community and some artistic inspiration. The litter, though, is still visible, now components of upcycled artwork that the Harrisburg community can see and enjoy.
This past fall, nonprofit collaboration Clean UP Cycle hosted an art show, which was the culmination of volunteers salvaging materials from Harrisburg streets and a team of local artists dreaming up new life for the retrieved trash. It began as a Drug Free Pennsylvania (DFPA) initiative to incorporate addiction-themed art in its office space, but became a much larger community-wide project of hope and rebirth.
DFPA Executive Director Christie Wentz and Director of Educational Programs Scott Serafini, as well as volunteer Brad Gebhart, brainstormed a community-centric art project that they hoped would get artists and Harrisburg neighborhoods involved in their message. Soon after, Foundation for Hope (FFH) founder Jesse Gantt joined forces with Clean UP Cycle.
To spread awareness about substance abuse, bullying, depression and suicide, DFPA and FFH planned a two-month-long trash-to-art project, organized as a community outreach initiative.
“As we discussed the message of Drug Free Pennsylvania, we realized that the mission of hope and renewal begins with discovering inner beauty in ourselves and our communities. The idea of creating something beautiful from something cast off is where we began,” says Serafini, explaining that the project ties in seamlessly with DFPA and FFH’s messages of hope about “coming up from the ashes” of drugs, depression and suicidal thoughts.
Trash to Art
Back in September, a team of 15 volunteers gathered at Danzante Community Art Center on an unkindly damp day to remove trash and debris from the Allison Hill neighborhood. After the team of trash haulers loaded their finds on a box truck, they transported the newly salvaged art materials to the Habitat for Humanity Greater Harrisburg Area ReStore warehouse, where, the next day, local artists began selecting the components for their projects.
“As I walk the streets of Harrisburg, I believe people will take pride in their neighborhood if their neighborhood is something to be proud of,” says Serafini. “Picking stuff up off the streets encourages that mindset. We want to encourage people to take pride in where they live.”
Volunteering their time to the cause, participating artists had one monthto complete their works of art, which were presented to the public on Oct. 18 in a vacant lot across from Danzante. A selection of art pieces is now permanently displayed in the Danzante lot and at other nonprofit organizations around the city. Proceeds from art sales directly benefitted DFPA and FFH.
About a dozen pieces were featured in the show, including functional art, large installation pieces and mixed media work, all signifying the capacity of art to breathe new life into our communities.
“Beauty can be found in every neighborhood and every individual,” says Gantt. “Clean UP Cycle is a win-win for everyone. Artists and volunteers were given a unique opportunity to creatively send messages of hope, renewal and recovery.”
For Serafini, art is a healthy expression of the soul, especially in hard times.
“I believe that art is something that everyone can relate to,” he explains. “When people struggle with any of these issues, they can look to art for hope.”
Serafini believes that Harrisburg is the natural backdrop for an art project that sends inspirational messages to its community.
“Harrisburg is on the edge of some great things, and I think that we are doing some great things in the city,” he says. “We have a very artistically focused community. It incites passion in people. It is very exciting to see.”
For more information on Clean UP Cycle, visit www.cleanupcycle.org.
