EARTH DAY
from Scrap to Sculpture

This film celebrates the longstanding partnership between Empire Recycling Corporation and Sculpture Space in transforming scrap metal into art.

For nearly 20-years, each Earth Day artists from Sculpture Space have been invited to Empire Recycling's Utica, New York scrap yard.  Eight artists search the yard to carefully select various metal and material that they will transform into a piece of art and then it is auctioned off as the "Earth Day Collection" at Sculpture Space's popular CHAIRity Auction each fall.  Dozens of pieces have been created over the years and have raised tens of thousands of dollars for Sculpture Space's unique artist-in-residence program.

 

The short film, "Earth Day - from Scrap to Sculpture", follows husband and wife artists Patrick Cuffe and Aimee Tarasek for just over six months - from selection of material on Earth Day, to an insider view of their creative process and fabrication of the pieces in their studio, to the CHAIRity Auction itself, and finally to the homes of the buyers where the pieces now live - showcasing the full span and impact of the project.

 

"Every day is Earth Day when you're in the scrap metal industry," says Steven Kowalsky, president of Empire Recycling Corporation.  "This film celebrates how the forging of a very special relationship can elevate Earth Day to encompass the environment AND the arts.

 

We hope you enjoy the film!