27″x10″x4″; velvet, antique silk, heirloom bags, 19th century african-american photo brooch, bone, acrylic and oil on wood; 2022-26. Courtesy of the artist.
COLLAGE ON VIEW
It’s Not Trash: Reclaiming and Transforming
at Petaluma Arts Center, Petaluma, California, USA
17 September-24 October 2026
“It’s Not Trash: Reclaiming and Transforming” brings together 40 artists from Recology San Francisco’s Artist in Residence Program and five invited artists from the Bay Area. Working with reclaimed materials, the artists transform what may be perceived as “trash” into reimagined art objects. Their works investigate place, culture, history, and family while also considering shape, form, color, and texture.
Rather than directly instructing viewers about sustainability and waste, the exhibition emphasizes the quiet alchemy of transforming discarded materials into objects of fascination and reflection. Through this act of transformation, the artists invite audiences to reconsider assumptions about value and recognize how change may be possible in the world around them.
Curated by Lisa Lightman, the exhibition is presented in partnership with the Recology Artist-in-Residence Program in San Francisco, Petaluma’s Reuse Alliance, and the Recology Artstart Student Hub (TRASH), led by Recology Sonoma Marin. The exhibition continues in the North Gallery with “Strictly Local: Piecing It Together in Sonoma County.” An opening reception takes place Thursday, 17 September 2026, 5:30-7:30PM.
(text adapted from material provided by the gallery)
INFORMATION
Petaluma Arts Center
230 Lakeville Street
Petaluma, California 94952, USA
(707) 762-3600
Hours:
Thursday-Sunday, Noon-4PM