Some NNY artists making treasures out of trash

Google the phrase "upcycled art" and your search will return nearly a million results. Do a search for images of the same phrase, and you'll find more than 200,000 pictures of creations ranging from the kitschy to the exquisite.

Upcycling refers to an increasingly popular trend of using waste or scrap materials to create new products of higher quality. Different from recycling, which tends to lower the value of materials, upcycling can reflect a growing concern about the environment, a lack of available raw materials, a desire to save money — or, in some artists' cases, all of the above.

"Upcycled is when you take a product like a sweater that has moth holes and you're ready to throw it out, and you upgrade it to a better-quality item," said Claire F. Poirier, a Malone artist who repurposes thrift store sweaters into a variety of items. "Recycled usually means you break down the elements and reuse the elements, where upcycled means you make something better than the state it was in at the time."

Ms. Poirier, whose work involves turning woolen sweaters into felted hats, mittens, purses, dog coats and stuffed animals, is one of a number of artists who produce upcycled work in the north country. She said she particularly enjoys the versatility and cost savings that reused materials afford her, as the thrift store sweaters provide an ever-changing palette to work with.

For her part, Janessa A. Scott said that a love of vintage and antique items coupled with a scarcity of craft supplies in the area drove her to recycling. A Web designer at Clarkson University in Potsdam and proprietor of the Mad Recycler blog, Ms. Scott has had no trouble coming up with the used materials for her bedspring wreaths and soda can jewelry.

"It was just a really easy way for me to be creative," she said. "Honestly, you'd never know it's recycled. I think that's what I like most about it, that you can create something that doesn't really appear to be recycled."

For Wayne A. Brown, creator of Tired Iron Sculptures in Heuvelton, upcycling was a therapeutic way to combine his knowledge of welding with a knack for spotting art in unlikely places. Mr. Brown's work, which ranges from small pieces to massive outdoor sculptures, is made of scrap metal that he acquires mainly from junkyards and Amish auctions.

"I've always been into the interesting shapes of metal," he said. "I'd run into them in a Dumpster or by the side of the road and say, 'That's a shame to see that thrown away.' I didn't start this out thinking I was going to be selling artwork, but it's been fun. I just like to go out and poke around."

Among other pieces, Mr. Brown's work includes the metal serpent in front of Ogdensburg's Advance Auto Parts and a 14-foot-long bicycle made of old farm equipment. He said he actually prefers working with metal that already has been formed into unusual shapes, as the scraps have interesting histories and potential.

"It's fun to recycle it. I like the really old stuff; that's why I call it Tired Iron," he said. "It's fun to see people trying to guess what the parts are or just being amazed at what I've done with the parts."

UPCYCLING ARTISTS

A partial listing of upcycled art in St. Lawrence County and beyond:

■ The Mad Recycler: Janessa A. Scott, Potsdam, www.themadrecycler.biz

■ Second Time Around: Claire F. Poirier, Malone,

www.2ndtimearoundnny.com

■ Sara E. Lynch, Potsdam, www.saraelynch.com

■ Adirondack Rug Braiding: Helen T. Condon, Parishville, www.

adirondackrugbraiding.com

■ Tired Iron Sculptures: Wayne A. Brown, Heuvelton, www.tired

ironsculptures.com