The Art of Recology: The Artist in Residence Program 1990- 2013

The Art of Recology: The Artist in Residence Program 1990-2013

When local Bay Area artist Jo Hanson moved to the Lower Haight District of San Francisco in the late 1970s, the sidewalks were covered with litter and the trees were often vandalized by the neighborhood kids. An early environmentalist and community organizer, Hanson took matters into her own hands and grabbed a broom and began sweeping. Her personal act of sweeping one sidewalk grew into a celebrated public art practice and citywide anti-litter campaign. Hanson’s efforts eventually roused the interest of San Francisco City officials who invited her to visit the Recology San Francisco facility (then known as Sanitary Fill Company) to see where the litter she collected was going. Amazed at what was thrown away, Hanson saw an opportunity for artists and proposed the Artist in Residence Program to Recology’s managers, who were excited by the idea of creating a program that involved community and environmental education.

That was over twenty years ago. What began as a desire for cleaner sidewalks and a healthier environment, has grown into a world-renowned art program that has sponsored over one hundred Bay Area artists and inspired thousands of children and adults to care for our environment and conserve our natural resources. The program has evolved over the years, but Hanson's original vision is still intact. The program remains true to its mission to inspire and educate by providing local artists with access to materials, a work space, and monetary and administrative support. When local Bay Area artist Jo Hanson moved to the Lower Haight District of San Francisco in the late 1970s, the sidewalks were covered with litter and the trees were often vandalized by the neighborhood kids. An early environmentalist and community organizer, Hanson took matters into her own hands and grabbed a broom and began sweeping. Her personal act of sweeping one sidewalk grew into a celebrated public art practice and citywide anti-litter campaign. Hanson's efforts eventually roused the interest of San Francisco City officials who invited her to visit the Recology San Francisco facility (then known as Sanitary Fill Company) to see where the litter she collected was going. Amazed at what was thrown away, Hanson saw an opportunity for artists and proposed the Artist in Residence Program to Recology's managers, who were excited by the idea of creating a program that involved community and environmental education.

Armed with safety gear and a shopping cart, artists chosen for the professional residency program have twenty-four-hour access to a studio space, but more importantly are able to scavenge in the Public Disposal and Recycling Area—what most artists refer to as “The Big Store.” Unable to believe just how much “stuff” gets thrown away, many artists experience an initial shock in the first two weeks of scavenging, especially after the euphoria of “shopping” wears off and the reality of how much waste we produce sets in. Artists spend four months scavenging, sorting, cleaning, and creating a body of work in preparation for a two-day exhibition attended by hundreds of people from the community and the company. Following their exhibition, artists have one week to clear out the studio as the next artists prepare to begin the same process.

As the program has evolved, one of its goals has been to expand the definition of “recycled art” so it is not limited to sculptural and mixed-media works. Recology San Francisco has purposefully and mindfully targeted artists who work in a variety of mediums. Recent artists-in-residence have included puppeteers, photographers, performance artists, sound, video and installation artists, and even a composer.

Recology San Francisco believes art has the power to influence behavior and hopefully inspire new ways of thinking about resource conservation and sustainability. The Artist in Residence Program at Recology San Francisco has created a diverse community of thousands of artists, students, organizers and educators who share a common goal of creating a more sustainable world. As it becomes more and more important to “Waste Zero,” one can only hope that the program will continue to inspire.

–Deborah Munk, Director
  Artist in Residence Program and Environmental Learning Center, Recology San Francisco

SFO Museum would like to acknowledge Recology President and CEO Mike Sangiacomo and Deborah Munk, Director, Artist in Residence Program and Environmental Learning Center, for their generous participation in this exhibition. Special thanks to Artist in Residence Program Coordinator/Curator Sharon Spain, who provided the insightful text for each of the selected artists, and to Artist in Residence Program Coordinator/Lead Designer Micah Gibson, for his documentation of the program and assistance with locating and identifying images of the artists and their work.

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