Monday, November 7, 2011

"The Heart, Still" by Jonas Sebura and Alex Gartelmann


This installation was created by Jonas Sebura and Alex Gartelmann for the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. It was made all out of RX reclaimed materials such as old sub floor and vinyl siding. For more info on the artists and their piece visit: jonassebura.com

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

ICON Modern and RX Lumber



Check out these tables made by Icon Modern. They were crafted out of RX lumber that was salvaged from an industrial building in Indiana. For more info: Icon Modern

Academy for Global Citizenship and RX Made Peace Bench




This bench was made by the RX training program for the Academy For Global Citizenship. The students painted it to celebrate their Peace Day.

Academy for Global Citizenship
4647 West 47th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60632

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

New Fall Workshop Series at the RX

We are excited to announce an amazing array of DIY workshops starting NOW! There are classes available in everything from sewing, bike maintenance, electrical, build a rustic mirror, coffee table or bench. The possibilities are endless. For more info click here to and you can download the whole schedule: RX Workshops SIGN UP TODAY!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Bughouse Ceramics Studio supports RX training program


A few months ago Andrea and her husband Dan came into the RX looking for furniture to go in there ceramics studio. They decided on the benches and table made by our job training program. The old growth lumber went well with the organic look they had in mind. They have now opened the Bughouse Studio at 4845 Oakton Street in Skokie IL 60077.
For more info click: The Bug House Art Studio



Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Join the ReBuilding Exchange for an Antique and Flea Market!



For more information, please contact meegan@rebuildingexchange.org or call us!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Design for Reuse Knowledge Exchange

Public Architecture just released a new e-resource, the Design for Reuse Knowledge Exchange.

Check out their fantastic library of projects online!

The Design for Reuse Knowledge Exchange is an evolving, online encyclopedia of material reuse projects throughout the world. This exchange features a growing number of project profiles, insights from the field and resources.


Public Architecture is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in San Francisco. It engages architecture firms, nonprofits, and manufacturers to commit to design for the public good through its nationally recognized 1% program; it acts to bring about positive community change through public-interest design initiatives and pro bono design service grants; and it shares the potential of design to change the world through advocacy and outreach.

http://www.publicarchitecture.org/reuse/

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

PUBLIC BREWERY - Workshops in May

(From Gapers Block) http://gapersblock.com/ac/2011/04/29/when-art-meets-hops/
By Britt Julious

If Chicago is a beer city, then our status is one that is in a state of flux. Although our selection is on par with other cities of similar size, our mass breweries are far outpaced by towns with more-established emerging and DIY breweries. However, the number of smaller breweries continues to grow with each year and home brewing has increasingly expanded as an option for the individual or groups more deeply invested in a hands-on and locally sourced means of food production.

For his latest community-oriented project, artist Christopher Tourre aims to bring the culture of the home brewery to the masses. Entitled PUBLIC BREWERY, Tourre organized a temporary and experimental brewery that includes a series of workshops and gatherings at the Spoke's Residency Project Space that will allow guests to brew their own beer or soda using either their own ingredients or locally produced food items such as cherries, honey, and crabapple blossom syrup.

Tourre considers himself to be a "social aggregator," a role that combines his artistic background (MFA from the University of Illinois at Chicago) with a desire to create and facilitate artistic projects around the idea of community and social gathering. In a recent collaborative project at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), Chicago as part of Unit 2 Collective, Tourre used the discarded scraps of discarded scraps of torn down homes in Chicago from The Rebuilding Exchange to create objects. The gallery space was then constructed as an open studio forum for people to design and build furniture.

For his latest project, Tourre's goal was to take, "disparate groups of people that have similar thought processes but don't necessarily run in the same social circles," and bring them together. Beer is a communal and social drink with an extensive history behind its production and popularity throughout the world.

Tourre's interests began in wine production but were steered towards beer brewing, in part, because of its communicable status. Tourre's interest in beer as a material for art production and idea creation also stems from the drink's presence at openings. "You go to an art event and there's beer but what about an art event where the beer is the art?" Tourre asked. He purchased a home brewing kit from Bev Art (also a sponsor for PUBLIC BREWERY) and began experimenting in brewing. After first testing brews made from water collected from a nature reserve in Wisconsin at assorted local events, Tourre then began hosting workshops out of his home. The workshops were more of an experiential process rather than a hands-on project as guests were allowed to see and ask questions about the brewing process in an informal setting.
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During the workshops, Tourre learned that the ingredients in the brews were very important to the guests and this knowledge will affect the workshops for PUBLIC BREWERY. Ingredients to be used for the beer and soda include cherries picked from a Humboldt Park resident, malted honey and local honey from beekeeper Donna Oppolo of the Pilsen Beekeepers Association, and crabapple blossom syrup donated by the Chicago Rarities Orchard Project (CROP) in Logan Square. In addition to creating their brews and sodas, guests have the chance to speak with some of the food growers who will be providing their items to the workshops. Participants can also bring their own ingredients to be used in the creation of their own brews. Tourre says that a small amount, about one pound per gallon, should be fine and guests have the option of working on a smaller level. Although every brew will not be completed during the scheduled workshops, guests can schedule a time to work together with Tourre to receive their finished brews.

A final exhibition (TBD) at the end of the month will not only display the "development and accumulation of artifacts, materials, documentation, and research" that went into the brewery, it will also be a change for workshop participants to taste the fruits of the labor.
--
Spoke Residency Project Space is located at 119 North Peoria, #3D.

List of workshops:
Saturday, April 30th, 3-8pm
Humboldt Park Cherry Pale Ale
21+, $5 entry fee

Saturday, May 7, 3-8pm
Pilsen Beekeeper's Ale
21+, $5 entry fee

Saturday, May 21, 12-3pm
Crabapple Blossom Soda
This workshop is open to all ages and families with children are strongly encouraged to attend. $5 per family/group

In addition to the workshops, members of the public may stop by the Spoke Residency Project Space to chat with artist Christopher Tourre to learn more about the brewing process as he brews specialty batches of beer.

Open studio brewing:
Friday, May 6th, 6-10pm
Friday, May 20th, 6-10pm

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Reuse Project - Chicken Coop

Customers John and Rachel Reed made this chicken coop from ReBuilding Exchange materials!





Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Reuse Project - Kitchen Island

Customer Tom Casten made this great looking kitchen island from some reclaimed granite and kitchen cabinets from the ReBuilding Exchange.




Sunday, March 27, 2011

Reuse Project - Electronaut Company

The ReBuilding Exchange's job training program teaches people transitioning out of the criminal justice system new skills in building deconstruction, sustainable reuse practices and woodworking.

For their woodworking training module, under the tutelage of instructor, Cynthia Main, the trainees often work on projects for real clients, including educational kits for the Illinois Library Association, a conference table for television programs such as Chicago Newsroom and this desk for Electronaut Company.

More information about our job training program can be found on our website at www.rebuildingexchange.org And check out Electronaut Company at www.electronaut.info


Friday, March 25, 2011

Build a Bench Workshop - April 2nd

The ReBuilding Exchange presents as part of a new series of educational workshops, Build a Bench! on Saturday, April 2nd, hosted by Blake Sloane.

Monday, March 21, 2011

ReBuilding Exchange in Apartment Therapy!


http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/marketplace/rebuilding-exchange-an-upcyclers-paradise-store-profile-141888

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Pictures from ReBuild 2011


Oh what fun we had! 400 people filled the warehouse on Saturday night to help us warm our new home and celebrate the big move. Pictures of the event are on our website
http://rebuildingexchange.org/rebuild2011.html
Thanks to photographer, Paul Strabbing, for capturing the evening so well!

And for those of you who visited the reuse photo booth, here is the online album of all the great shots by photographer, Justin Schmitz
https://picasaweb.google.com/photobooth.schmitz/ReBuildingExchange

Reuse Project - Pot Hanger

This was made by customer, Damien Casten of Candid Wines from ReBuilding Exchange reclaimed lumber. Compare the price of these materials and joy of making it on a Spring weekend versus buying it for a pretty penny at a big retail outlet. Come on down and get your materials this weekend. We're open 10am-6pm.


Monday, March 7, 2011

Our signs are up! Come on down and see us at 2160 N. Ashland!


Reuse Project - Credenza

Raun Meyn of FoundRe: made this gorgeous credenza with raw materials from the ReBuilding Exchange. http://foundrefurnishings.com/home.html

The second piece is made from old growth 1x12's and some house siding from a 1920's bungalow in Oak Park.



Monday, February 14, 2011

Coffee Table Project



Bethany Horning made this coffee table from a window from the ReBuilding Exchange. The materials used for the base of the table were found on the roadside. She replicated Roy Lichtenstein's Trompe L'oeil with Léger Head and Paintbrush, and gave it her own twist.

ReBuild 2011 - Join us!


Join us on March 12th for ReBuild 2011! The ReBuilding Exchange's 3rd Annual Celebration and Fundraiser.

The ReBuilding Exchange invites you to celebrate another great year and help us warm our new house at 2160 N. Ashland where we’ll be moving next month.

The event will feature live music with Black Bear Combo, DJ Naomi Walker, fabulous silent auction, food and refreshments, and fun!

Get tickets online now until 3/11. Tickets are $32.50 ($40 at the door) www.rebuildingexchange.org/rebuild2011

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Call For Volunteers at the NEW SPACE! The ReBuilding Exchange needs you!

The ReBuilding Exchange is moving and we need your help!
Over the next 6 weeks, we will be moving to a new location at 2160 N. Ashland. We are scheduling a number of group volunteer days which will include activities like painting, organizing materials, cleaning and loading and unloading trucks.
The first 2 days will be February 5th and 12th, 10am-6pm, and the volunteer shifts will happen at the 2160 N. Ashland warehouse.
Please RSVP to meegan@rebuildingexchange.org and let us know if you can make it. If neither of those days work for you, but you are interested in volunteering another time, please let us know and we can make arrangements for you or your group.
A few things to keep in mind before you come:
* Always wear closed-toed shoes. Work boots are great; steel-toed shoes are best.
* Wear your grungiest old clothes. Plan on getting dirty.
* Bring work gloves if you have them. (We have extras, but it’s nice to wear your own.)
* Bring a water bottle.
* When you get here, please complete and sign our volunteer application form, if you have not done so in the past. Copies are available at the front desk of the warehouse.
* Be sure to sign in when you arrive and sign out when you leave. A sign in/out notebook is also at the front desk. (We use this information to track volunteer hours for grants, etc.)
* BE SAFE! We are a very safety conscious organization. The nature of our inventory in the warehouse means that there are nails, sharp corners, tripping hazards, and sometimes unstable piles. If you lift anything, be sure to use safe lifting techniques. Know your restrictions. If you aren’t sure, ask a staff person. Be alert.
And if you have old blankets, towels or sturdy boxes you’d like to donate, please bring them!
Thanks so much for your support!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Elisa Boughner makes a studio floor out of RX flooring






Elisa used her creative eye to her advantage when she visited the ReBuilding Exchange. She took all the left over bundles that had no match and put them together to form this amazing studio/ gallery floor. The use of all these different pieces adds a little extra work but also adds some extra room in the budget.

To see more of Elisa's artwork:

www.boughnerart.com
www.facebook.com/boughnerart

Aritist Jim Dee makes frames from RX lumber





Artist Jim Dee created frames for his oil paintings out of our reclaimed lumber. To see more of Jim's paintings check out his website: www.jimdeeart.com