In Napolean Dynamite, the guys discuss what kinds of skills are required to impress girls–funny, they never mentioned friendship bracelets or tetherball . . . one of my favorite things about working for BUFFALO ReUSE is there is a way for everyone to contribute–even if you have no skills. For instance, we needed people to help hang the artwork for the ReART exhibition–and even though no one had any gallery internship experience,

Mike Pacifico, Sherry Burns, Love Slating, Laura Chestnut and Tamara showed up with the most important ingredient–enthusiasm! A little wine, a little mushroom pizza and handful of nails, hammers, measuring tapes, levels and we had everything else we needed. Hanging the first piece seems daunting, but you quickly get into the groove of measuring and marking where the nail holes will go.

We had some artwork show up at the last possible second and another four pieces magically appeared by the hands of a rather unsuspecting man in a red power tie–Eugene! Some locations for the work fell into place easily and others were moved back and forth from one end of the gallery to the other until it flowed well. Bruce Beyer’s Whirlygig was in every corner of the gallery before it found its rightful place.

Art can be intimidating; many people dread galleries or museums as stuffy places where they’re expected to think on a higher plane–referencing some theory or history they’ve never encountered. But there are different types of art and Buffalonians are more receptive to a broad interpretation than some places I’ve lived. The curator and gallery take on a large responsibility when they put on an exhibition–they need to take care of the artist and artwork as though a gift has been bestowed upon them and then find the best way to share that gift with a community. I think we were lucky and we were able to choose work that was accessible and fun and interesting.

I will continue to be on the lookout for artists who focus on recycling and building materials, but keep me posted if you know someone too. ReART Exhibitions have been going on in Bellingham, Washington on a larger scale and in Germany too. Art using “found objects” began decades ago, but now there is an emphasis toward recycling or commenting on consumerism.

There will be more BUFFALO ReUSE exhibitions in 2008. In January, we will initiate a city-wide PEACE MURAL event where all the high school art classes have a chance to paint murals for the boarded up houses. (pssst, start collecting paint to donate–it’s especially cheap at ESTATE SALES!) Later, in March, we’ll curate another exhibition focusing on DOORS.

We will always need more people with skills–not necessarily bowhunting skills or computer hacking skills or even a lot of sweat & muscle, but skills for RESEARCH, DESIGN, SCREENPRINTING, PHOTOGRAPHY, EDITING, DRAFTING, PLANNING and “softer” skills, like pushing a broom, hosing off a dirty sink/tub/toilet/mirror/window or helping someone measure a door for their house. Mostly, we just need people to pitch in and be willing to try something new . . . and maybe add a skill to their repetoire.