ECOSTYLE

RECYCLING PROMOTIONS in Hawaii have been downright entertaining this year. Last March was the Tour de Trash event on Maui for a behind-the-scenes look at recycling and waste processing operations, sponsored by Maui Recycling Group Inc. and a grant from County of Maui Public Works. The most artistic

Glasphalt is not a new discovery. In fact, research and processing techniques date back about ten years. It's not perfected for every purpose, but there are bonuses such as quick drying after precipitation. Recreational trails in Iowa are made from glasphalt and other states are creating innovative municipal uses as production studies continue. Think of the possibilities!

Kauai Recycling far the Arts is a nonprofit organization working to prepare themselves for maximum island landfill capacity come 2009. Their mission is to demonstrate, promote, educate and empower the community with productive skills that nurture recycling, artistic culture and sustainability. They offer classes to teach students how to ladle recycled hot glass into sand molds for cast glass sculpture and artwork. Pupils are asked to bring art items to press into the sand for design and texture. Of course, such items can be collected free from the landfill or anyone's trash. KRA members are entitled to a free class and invited to offer their products to retailers from the in-house studio. Present recycled glass items range from jewelry to drawer pulls. What a terrific method for lowcost publicity to benefit the earth-conscious artisans living on Kauai.

Early October, the East Hawaii Guttural Council presented the longest continuously running 19th annual Recycle-Trash Art Exhibition, sponsored in part by Recycle. Hawaii. People were eagerly lined, mostly in artistic fashion statements, to enter before doors opened and the musicians began. Juror and local rainforest-inspired artist Ira Ono selected 85 creations from 45 illustrators this year. Acknowledgments of those who best displayed complex themes with basic recycling issues were posted. Admired art contributors were there to tell their rubbish-found humorous stories. Neighboring restaurants donated hors d'oeuvres (called pupus in Hawaii), which were served by cheerful volunteers. The gallery view gala was followed by the Haute Trash Fashion Show that entailed a costume contest. Both events were a blast with impressive community support.

I learned that trash fashion designer and art goddess Rayona Visqueen joined organizers in 1988 with the hot Trash show in the Old Nevada Theatre. She relocated to Hawaii in 1991 and by working together with numerous nonprofit, recycling and environmental organizations on all the islands, she brought inspiring designers together for nine more years. By 2002, Rayona moved to Seattle and expanded her fund-raising influence for "trash fashionista" events. More than 200 traveling shows later, her production history continues.

Trash Luxe was a recent exhibition in London of serious up-and-coming designers who took humble objects and made them into luxury items. The event was orchestrated by Liberty, an old and stylish store that offers unique settings for private shopping and champagne receptions. The sophisticated show was created specially for the London Design Festival.

All these creative galas inspire artists, raise funds for good causes, and enlighten people who care about Earth. "Getting trashed" has a new meaning this year and with community support, the trend will surely continue.