The Paducah School of Art and Design hosted “Reclaimed and Re-purposed” Thursday, June 9. The exhibit took place to raise money to restore the once thriving Columbia Theatre.
Months ago local artists had the opportunity to “reclaim” items that were found in the basement of the Columbia Theatre. These items included screws, metal pieces, and other items left behind before the theatre went dark in 1987. Artists were given the chance to show how they had “repurposed” these items at last night’s event. Landee Bryant-Greene of the Paducah Art House Alliance says the main goal of the exhibition and sale is to get people involved in the efforts to restore the Columbia Theatre.
Bryant-Greene says, "Stuff like this keeps us on the radar of people, it gets our message out there about what we are trying to accomplish, and it’s just a unique way to get the community involved.”
Paducah Artists presented their creations such as photography, sculptures, jewelry, and even a robot with an illuminated head. Bryant-Greene says most of the artists are active artists in Paducah and jumped at the chance to be challenged. Local artist Randall Griggs saw it as a chance to build a robot he’d drawn years ago.
“When I got to the Columbia I just found the right stuff and I thought you know what I’m just gonna put all the pieces together and seal it altogether with him you know the concept drawing, the print I made. Cause I made a print of him a few years ago just to try to convince myself it's time to build him and still couldn’t find the right things to build him out of," says Griggs.
A portion of proceeds from the event go to the local artists, and the rest will be put toward the theater's restoration.
