4R - Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose, Reinvent in Art and Life

My documentary project Recycle, Reuse, Repurpose, Reinvent in Art and Life was created during Covid-19 lockdown in New York City at the Westbeth Artists Housing. The project is a meditation on how debris of everyday life can get a new lease on life through sustainable practices Advanced Style fashion icon Debra Rapoport uses in her work.

Debra Rapoport both lives and teaches her sustainable lifestyle. I have worked with Debra making videos and photographs for her online workshops with Neue Galerie and New York Textile Month. Debra turns used toilet paper rolls into colorful bracelets, discarded expresso cups, dryer lint, mail packaging, spent paper towels and party paper plates into hats; creates garments out of clothing swaps finds and weaves neck pieces from left over scraps of cloth.

The photographs also feature several of my neck pieces made out of the found natural objects.

Debra makes me think about aging in style, being proud of who you are and creativity we can all practice without spending a lot of money.

Several photographs from this project were featured in the exhibitions by the Council on Aging. At 75 Debra Rapoport is the youngest person I know. This project was inspired by Pablo Picasso's quote: "It takes a long time to become young".

Our planet needs help. We can do our part and we can do it in style.