Reuse Recreate Reimagine, Second Time Around: The Hubcap as Art at CCAE

By Patricia Frischer

Larry and Debby Kline, the Alchemist and his Junks. 

This is the third time I have seen the oversized "The Alchemist and his Junks" by Larry and Debbie Kline and this time he is given a proper home and space to breath in the exhibition Reuse Recreate Reimagine from April 8  and extended to May 28 at California Center for the Arts Museum (340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025 Gallery hours: Thurs – Sat: 10AM – 5PM Sun: 1PM – 5PM) 

The show not only includes work by Cheryl Nickel, Betty Guttin and features Federico Uribe, and old friend but newly minted artist Mark Title, it is also paired with Second Time Around: The Hubcap as Art. This collection of re-imagined hubcaps is a choice of the best from Landfillart.Inc a project out of Philadelphia but includes a selection of our own David Avolos's work. 

No recycled themed show would be complete without work from students and Sherri LaPorte did a great job of helping students make fused glass medallions which became the center star of their hand painted hubcaps. A corridor of these proved that the sum is greater than the parts. 

But it was the work on the Student Gallery Wall, a space dedicated to showcasing the work of Escondido’s students, where I found the most delight in the cardboard portraits. This is only a small taste of the work in these exhibitions. 

CCAE is one of the very best spaces to show in Southern California and you still have time to support the museum which has struggled to stay open. Now under the leadership again of Leah Goodwin, it is looking it's best again. We understand Larry and Debby Kline stepped in when a curator dropped out for the Reuse Recreate Reimagine and they did a stunning job of pulling together an exciting group of artists in this museum level exhibition. 

It was wonderful to see all the junks surrounding the Alchemist including stunning drawings and beautiful sculptures in this installation by Larry and Debby Kline. (SD Art Prize recipient).

Roberto Salas took rubber soled shoes and made them into stamps like lino blocks and then appears to have walked them into wall paper.

Roberto Salas 

Roberto Salas 

This was the first time I have seen so much of the work of Cheryl Nickel's all in one place. She has been working with leftover medical devices and this re-imagined wheel chairs, as a rickshaw with crutches is glamorous and clever. 

Taking a portable pottie  and elevating it to a honored sedan chair could be suitable for the emperor with no clothes. Thanks for the laugh, Cheryl Nickel.

A test tube delight from Cheryl Nickel

More test tubes and crutches from Cheryl Nickel to light up our lives. 

Becky Guttin has been working with recycled materials since she used stale tortillas from her husband's factory. 

Close up of Becky Guttin's  giant bracelet and earrings

Mark Title uses glass and light in his inaugural museum exhibition. 

My favorite Uribe is this one made of telephone wire

Uribe made of all used books

Uribe with colored pencils cut into various lengths. 

Mustang Sally by Kevin Carson called out to me in the Hubcap part of the exhibitions. 

The best of the painted hubcaps has to be this self portrait by Robert Beck

Susan van Blanken with her glass mosaics transformed and hide the hubcap. Maybe not showing off the recycledness of the show but so pretty and so well done. 

David Avolos was the highlight of the Hubcap show, really elevating  and intergrating the hubcaps into the compositions. 

Hubcaps like punctuation  marks on the wall. 

close up of one of my favorites by student Jade Vanderwarker age 12

Recycled cardboard portraits: Julian Pena age 13

Leslie Hernandez age 14

Ana Valdez age 14

Oscar Cornajo age 12

Brianna Reyes age 13

 My last choice is a mother's day gift of art for all my readers from Angel Palmer. 

Angel Palmer is 18 and in grade 12. He did not a portrait not just of himself but of a women like his mom. He said, "She cared, pushed me to do my best and never gave up."