I tems that may have been discarded became one-of-a-kind treasures — clothing, rugs, jewelry, figurines, handbags and goodness-knows-what — on display and for sale at the 14th annual Déjà Vu Art and Fine Craft Show, where 60 juried vendors found their repurpose in life.
A Saturday crowd of more than 1,000 at The Commons saw reincarnated gems of creativity that were eyed as ideal Christmas gifts or complementary home decor, for example.
“There are so many beautiful things here — and they’re all so unique,” said Judy Lahr of Columbus, Christmas shopping for family members. “And, tangentially, the recycling isn’t the main reason I come here, but I think it’s great that works. And I love all the artistry.”
The free gathering, the brainchild of Columbus artist Marilyn Brackney, celebrates America Recycles Day. It does so by highlighting a broad range of artists using scrap wood, fabric, metals, wristwatches, you name it, and turning those pieces into new jewelry boxes, jackets, coasters, candleholders, tables, whimsical figures and other items.
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And if you thought such socially-conscious gatherings had become commonplace, think again. Visitors and artists alike from surrounding areas such as Bloomington and Indianapolis proclaimed Déjà Vu as unique as its displayed wares. Mostly, they mentioned that other art shows sometimes include a recycled materials category, but added that few organizers coordinate an entire show on such a theme.
“Just by looking, you wouldn’t immediately know it’s an environmental show,” Brackney said. “Because I insist on quality (art).”
Hammering home that idea as much as anyone was West Lafayette metal artist and blacksmith Dominick Andrisani. He stood over a century-old anvil, pounding away at his bronze, Celtic-style crosses. He knows that the loud demos get attention, and the attention results in sales. By late in the day, he sold every cross on hand — and his most expensive, brass dancer figure for $250.
Indianapolis shopper Carolyn Shay became the happy buyer, purchasing it for a friend’s Christmas gift. She was unaware that Andrisani had begun his recycled work when he looked at a bucket of unwanted, bronze stick-like segments from dismantled, high-end fence railings. And he told a friend he could reshape those into wanted, artsy pieces.
Shay, who had visited the 2018 Brown County Studio Tour in October and heard about Déjà Vu, acknowledged that she had no idea she could find something like Andrisani’s creations.
“But I’m always hopeful,” she said.
Therein lies part of the beauty of Déjà Vu. Broken, discarded watches, bracelets and silverware become items such as funky jewelry and art display clocks for Nana’s Treasures, operated by Jill and Bob Stillwell. By early afternoon, they determined that their sales were stronger than last year’s at the show. They have been vendors at all but one of the 14 Déjà Vu gatherings.
“The whole premise of this show is what makes it so special,” Jill Stillwell said.
Who doesn’t love the idea of new life and second chances?
“I’m a captive audience,” said visiting recycling jewelry artist and shopper Erin Fleser of Bloomington, who now wants to be a vendor. “But, still, this (event) is fantastic.”
Fleser just had purchased a cloth shelf basket container made from a variety of discarded fabrics.
Woodworker Lynn Hoeltke of Seymour, a half century into such work, had sold 48 of his cheaper-priced wooden Christmas-style mini-trees by late in the day. But he looked for ways to interest shoppers in his other, more expensive and detailed creations such as jewelry boxes made from walnut fireplace logs.
Hence the sign on his booth: “To you it’s a fireplace log. To me it’s a jewelry box.”
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14: Number of years for the event
60: Number of vendors
1,000-plus: Attendance
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