As you can see by clock, we visited Reconsidered Goods at precisely 4:40 pm. In the above photo, Co-Founder and Director Paige Cox took a break in her busy schedule to tell us about the store. Reconsidered Goods is a non-profit, creative reuse center, modeled after the Scrap Exchange in Durham, NC. Paige partnered with Joseph Edwards and Martha-Hughes-James to found the store, located just behind the Red Collection on Patterson Street at Holden Road.
In the background of the photo, you can see some of the inventory available for purchase. They offer everything from fabric samples and scraps to skeleton keys and vintage snapshots, just waiting to be up-cycled and repurposed. While we were on site, Paige was explaining field trip options for schools. Teachers can bring students and help foster their creativity as well as give them tasks that scaffold the engineering design process. Paige was also helping a furniture maker who came to purchase leather. There were several bolts and they were reasonably priced. Another person was buying boxes of 1,000 piece puzzles. Two workers were pricing and sorting and rolling fabric. Reconsidered Goods is a busy and dynamic place.
The photo below features the Make & Take area where people, young and old alike, can work for a studio fee of five dollars. There are many free materials in the Make & Take area and other items, like mat board and old photos, can be purchased. Several items are available for under a dollar. Paige is so committed to this venture that she left her full-time position staging and setting merchandise for Anthropologie, where she worked for five years. The idea is a powerful one. Even if you aren't inclined to repurpose things, the store is well worth a visit. They also offer classes. Finally, they gladly accept donations- in case you are looking for something to do with those left-over art supplies like that 1/2 a ball of yarn or partial tube of glue. It is also a great place for students to volunteer and, with a little creativity, earn service learning hours.
I can see a place like that coming in very handy!
Posted by: William Kendall | Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 01:49 PM