Wegmans Helps Turn Trash Into Treasure

A work of art woven by a local student out of Wegmans Food Markets plastic bags for display during Wegmans Holt Road’s Earth Day celebration in April has become the inspiration for the Rochester, N.Y.-based grocer’s involvement in the Wegmans Recycled Art Competition and Exhibition at the Greentopia Festival. Greentopia is the region’s first annual green-living event.

The recycled-art competition will take place during the festival at the historic High Falls district in Rochester on Sept. 17-18 and feature original artwork made by students and professional artists alike. All submissions must include a minimum of 75 percent recycled, salvaged or “found” materials. Artists may apply by filling out a form at greentopiafestival.com/artists.

“Finding new uses for old things may seem like a small step, but together, those small steps make a big difference for the environment and for our community,” noted Jason Wadsworth, sustainability coordinator at Wegmans, which operates 77 stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland.

Among the items on display will be two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and functional artwork such as furnishings and accessories. Artists can win cash prizes for their work, which will be judged on originality of recycled materials, uniqueness and craftsmanship. Guest judges include artist Nancy Gong, illustrator Chris Lyons, Louis Perticone from ARTISANworks, Nan Miller of the Nan Miller Gallery, and Marie Via, director of exhibitions at the Memorial Art Gallery.