Green Guru Network

Nancy Judd is a contemporary artist who uses found materials to create her work. That is nothing new, but where she gets her materials is unique She made an evening gown from used Obama-Biden campaign banners, and the dress ended up at the Inauguration!

Judd says, "One year, my art school got a new pop machine. The garbage can next to it grew with all the pop cans. Seeing them thrown out just seemed wrong. I put a recycling bin next to the pop machine. I started wondering: Where does trash go? Who picks it up? After that, my career path was in solid waste and recycling."

Would you like to see an image of her work? Here's an article  about Judd by Michelle Hiskey for CNN.

The Hudson Valley Materials Exchange is now being organized by the Town of New Paltz. With a new name, the New Paltz Reuse Center, this great resource will have its Grand Re-Opening May 1^st.

Although the term “upcycling” hasn’t made it into the dictionary yet, Wikipedia has an article which states, “Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.”

The Hudson Valley Materials Exchange – or I should say New Paltz Reuse Center - is a storehouse for unwanted industrial…stuff! Bulk paper, construction materials, windows, and amazing things you would never think of are all the types of things you will find at this recycling center. If you have an art, construction or educational project on the horizon, visit this amazing place for all manner of cool industrial byproducts.

For directions and contact information visit their website at: http://www.hvme.com

You’ll be glad you did.