That's when HATCH, the area's first-ever creative-reuse art festival, produced by The I.D.E.A. Store, will emerge in various venues in and near downtown Champaign. HATCH includes an art exhibition and gallery talk; a one-day art fair; and a host of activities led by visiting artist-in-residence Michelle Stitzlein of Baltimore, Ohio. Stitzlein is a found-object sculptor and educator who has been dubbed the "the Bottle Cap Lady" for her efforts to teach children and others how to transform otherwise disposable plastic trash into art.

With the exception of a daylong plastic-bottle-cap mural-building exercise Stitzlein is leading with children at Champaign's South Side Elementary School on Friday, March 1, most events are open to the public. There is a $5 suggested donation to attend the opening night event at Indi Go Artist Co-op. 9 E. University Ave., in downtown Champaign, from 5-8 p.m. Friday, March 1. The donation includes a slide lecture presented by Stitzlein, at 7 p.m., and a ticket for free admission to the HATCH art fair on Saturday, March 2 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. in the McKinley Fitness Center gym (old Champaign County YMCA). Otherwise, the suggested donation for entry to the art fair is $2 per person; kids are free.

A complete schedule of festival activities and list of participating artists is on the  HATCH website.

While the term "creative reuse" is somewhat new in the vernacular, The I.D.E.A. Store General Manager Gail Rost noted that people have actually been practicing creative reuse for centuries.

"When used in the context of artmaking, creative reuse is what occurs when artists and designers take discarded materials destined for the landfill - everything from bottle caps, corks and spools to old trophy parts and packing materials - and add their creative touch and talent to 'hatch' something brand new," she said. "Results may be whimsical or functional, but almost always are clever and compelling."

Along with a team of volunteers from The I.D.E.A. Store, Rost has put together "a vibrant, multifaceted festival with a full menu of simultaneous activities to give attendees a multi-course sampling of the many ways artists throughout the Midwest are embracing the tenets of creative reuse." The festival, she added, is intended "not only to inform but also to inspire others to rethink the way they interact with materials previously regarded only as junk or trash."

"We want our community to have a full experience in learning about creative reuse through HATCH," said Rost, who also is Executive Director of the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation. "We want you to see it, touch it, hear about it, explore it, support our artists with your purchases, love it with your friends and help us help the world to slow down, use fewer materials and create less waste. We want you to see the fun, beauty and potential in the everyday waste object."

Rost said entry into the juried art exhibition and art fair was competitive. HATCH jurors reviewed nearly 100 entries from more than 50 artists and artist-vendors from throughout Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. Selected work - created using at least 75 percent recycled, reused or repurposed materials - ranges from assemblage, collage, jewelry, fiber and paper arts to functional design, including garden décor, lighting fixtures and clothing.

Twenty-five pieces by 16 artists were chosen for inclusion in the Indi Go exhibition. The exhibition also will feature large-scale moth sculptures made from found objects by artist-in-residence Stitzlein. More than 25 artist-vendors - including several teams and collectives - were selected to sell their art made from recycled, reused, repurposed or upcycled materials at the one-day art fair at McKinley Fitness Center (Old YMCA).

The I.D.E.A. Store is an earned-income social enterprise  

of the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation,  

a full 501c3 non-profit organization supporting K -12 education in  

Illinois Community School Districts Unit 4 and Unit 116    

Phone: 217-352-7878    Store hours: Tuesday - Friday, 2 pm - 7 pm and Saturday, 10 am - 3 pm  

28 E. Springfield, Champaign, IL  61820    

2nd Floor - handicapped access and loading dock available on north side of building