Victoria artist Beverly Hancock used to paint a painting and be done. But now, she cuts it up. And then, she weaves it into something new.

Karen Guilbault gathers pine needles 含羞草研究社� sometimes she含羞草研究社檒l even politely ask city removal not to rake over a spot. She then patiently bundles and weaves them into intricate baskets.

Award-winning fibre artist Martina Edmondson now makes whimsical creations out of nature foragings.

These women are all established artists riding the waves of a rising tide: the growing trend of repurposed art. Essentially, it含羞草研究社檚 using found or existing objects to create something entirely new.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 a huge trend in the world, but the biggest trend is to use garbage and reuse things that we don含羞草研究社檛 think are beautiful,含羞草研究社� Hancock said. 含羞草研究社淎nd to try to make something that no one含羞草研究社檚 ever seen before out of something you would usually throw out.含羞草研究社�

In February, another 含羞草研究社榬epurposed含羞草研究社� artist from Victoria, driftwood sculptor Tanya Bub, was at an international exposition of repurposed art in Qatar called the Tadweer Art Exhibition. The exhibit merged the worlds of art and environmental consciousness, stated to be a testament to Qatar含羞草研究社檚 commitment to sustainability.

For artists who approach art through this lens, the draw lies in reconnecting with the natural world while relinquishing control and embracing spontaneity.

含羞草研究社淚 start with something that I find really interesting,含羞草研究社� Edmondson said of her diverse pieces, which include collage, sculpture and eco printing (using natural materials to dye paper with earthy tones and create imprints). 含羞草研究社淚 might think, oh, maybe this looks a little bit like a face or this could be an eagle. And then my imagination takes a flight.含羞草研究社�

She also does embroidery, but, 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not pretty embroidery. I guess I don含羞草研究社檛 do pretty very well. Or, I don含羞草研究社檛 find it pretty.含羞草研究社�

Pretty isn含羞草研究社檛 the point when approaching art in this manner. 含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檙e making it for yourself. And I think that comes with age,含羞草研究社� Edmondson said.

Hancock, an expressionist and figurative artist who finds it 含羞草研究社渆xhilarating含羞草研究社� to rip up and re-imagine her paintings into new works, agreed this is a new era of art-making for her. 含羞草研究社淚t is really interesting to see how artists含羞草研究社� work changes as their situation in life changes.含羞草研究社�

A growing eco-consciousness in the arts community

While repurposed art has always been around, all three artists said they含羞草研究社檝e seen it growing in popularity, all part of a growing eco-consciousness.

含羞草研究社淚 think with the way climate change is going, there will be more and more emphasis on, what are we using? What are we doing to the environment?含羞草研究社� Edmondson said.

含羞草研究社淚含羞草研究社檓 not saying everybody含羞草研究社檚 there, but, you know, I have a big following online. It含羞草研究社檚 a very big topic,含羞草研究社� Hancock said.

含羞草研究社淢any, many artists would say, 含羞草研究社楾here含羞草研究社檚 no paper towel in my studio. I含羞草研究社檓 using rags.含羞草研究社� So if you can含羞草研究社檛 do everything, you含羞草研究社檙e trying to do something, right? And I think every artist is sharing that information with each other.含羞草研究社�

Guilbault primarily uses pine needles to create her baskets. But she also paints stones to feature in the centre of these baskets, and once she含羞草研究社檚 done painting, she wipes her palette so the paint doesn含羞草研究社檛 go down the drain.

含羞草研究社淵ou see how we are all thinking about it,含羞草研究社� Hancock said. 含羞草研究社淲hen I went to art school, what a squiggle of time ago, in the 1970s, nobody talked about that. There wasn含羞草研究社檛 a single person in the art world that had ever even discussed, what do we do with this paint? Is it bad for the world?含羞草研究社�

Experience repurposed art

While the artists just wrapped up a group exhibit at Gage Gallery in March, Beverly Hancock will be exhibiting at Gage again April 2-14 with RAW: Unveiled Layers, which delves into the raw experiences that shape the human condition.

If you are interested in this type of artwork you can also check out art by Gerhard B盲r, Martha Haversham, Michelle Reader, Wim Delvoye and Yuken Teruya.

But Hancock, Guilbault and Edmondson would probably also encourage you to try it out for yourself.

含羞草研究社淚t is magical. After you get going, you go, 含羞草研究社業 could have never thought of that含羞草研究社�,含羞草研究社� Hancock said.