The old saying “One person’s trash is another’s treasure” certainly applies to Minneapolis artist Mayumi Amada. On Saturday, July 16, she hosted a talk and slide show at Pierre Bottineau Library on how she uses recyclable materials to make beautiful art from things that are considered garbage. Amada’s primary materials are recycled plastic bottles and plastic bags. The Japanese culture and the philosophy of Zen also influences her creativity.
Her grandmother in Japan taught her how to crochet doilies when she was a young girl. Although, some may think of the doily as old fashioned, to Amada – the doily is a primary theme in life. The knowledge and technique of how to make a doily is handed down from one generation to another. The repeated patterns show all things are connected and are a part of the great circle of life. She also uses discarded plastic rope and tarps to create her jewel-like intricate designs in large- and small-scale formats. The doilies reflect the “circle of life, the passage of time, ancestry and mortality.”
From plastic bottles and their tops, Amada creates larger flower designs that float – as water is vital for life and is needed for preservation. The smaller flowers (shown below) represent the full bloom of a person’s life and reminds us to make the most of each day. The mushrooms in the exhibit are made from Target and Cub Foods plastic bags and represent the newly found discovery that certain types of mushrooms can consume polyurethane, the main ingredient in plastic, and could become a natural way to compost plastic.
Amada was born in Japan and came to Minneapolis to study English at the University of Minnesota. During that time, after taking different classes, she discovered art classes. Her “world exploded with passion” and she knew she had to be an artist. She continued with her education to get a MFA degree from the University and from that point on, she has dedicated her life to being an artist. Amada has a display of her smaller pieces of art currently at the Pierre Bottineau Library, 55 Broadway Street NE. Larger doily installations along with water designs are featured on her website at mayumiamada.myportfolio.com. She will also host upcoming classes for adults and children at the library in July and August. See class listing here. To register, go to www.hclib.org/pierrebottineau.
Below: Mayumi Amada crafted mushrooms from Target and Cub plastic carryout bags. Amada shows her crocheted flowers with bottle cap centers. Her art is on display at Pierre Bottineau Library. (Photos by Patti Hoffmann)