Scrap Serves Denton's Quirky Art Scene
Anyone who enters Scrap Denton instantly becomes aware of the vast array of objects from fibers, yarns, scrap book paper to shelf after shelf of art supplies among many of many items available at Scrap Denton. The warehouse-style building is full of recycled art and crafts supplies, teacher resources, and containers filled with some of the strangest pieces you never knew you needed. Whether its fabric for sewing projects or even the largest bin of photographic slides of nothing but Collie dogs for who knows what reason, a trip to Scrap is a trip worthwhile.
“We get a lot of interesting stuff come through our door,” Kari Meyercord-Westerman, director of Scrap Denton said. “We can never predict it.”
Scrap Denton is a donation-based store with a mission to provide affordable materials to the community, inspire environmentally sustainable behavior and creative reuse. It is by this mission that Scrap is truly unique.
Scrap stores are located across various parts of the nation from Oregon, California, Miami, Washington, Maryland, and Virginia. It is only fitting that the only Scrap store in Texas, as of now, is right here in Denton.
“I would say that Scrap has become a really integral part of Denton,” Meyercord-Westerman, said. “I think it is a very successful craft site by how funky and quirky Denton is.”
Scrap Denton offers workshops for both kids and adults. There are a wide range of education projects and Scrap even does birthday parties.
“In the past we have done things like a weaving and knitting workshop by weaving with straws and CDs,” Annie Morrison, Scrap Denton Education Coordinator said. “We will be doing a geoboard workshop in January.”
One of the things that Meyercord-Westerman mentioned Scrap Denton does is Rebel Craft Rumble which is a live craft-off. Meyercord-Westerman said in this craft-off contestants are given specific sets of materials to work with for different rounds. It is similar to a cook-off in front of judges where they compete to craft the best thing that they can.
Scrap also has their unique Re: Vision Gallery. It includes art which is made from 75 percent or more of reused material. The artist even gets the opportunity to earn 60 percent of the selling price.
In January, Scrap Denton will be having an inaugural Artists in Residence program where artists can apply to have their work displayed in the store. Three artists will be selected with an account of funds to produce work and will be displayed on January 5 from 6-8 p.m.
In the past Scrap has even worked with UNT Visual Arts & Design Associate Professor James Thurman, among others, to have work displayed in the shop.
Morrison said that she loves working at Scrap Denton because it really helps her be creative too. Morrison said that she loves hearing people in the shop react to finding something they didn’t expect to find. Or, when a mom comes in with her kids and she hears, “Oooo mom, look at this!”
Meyercord-Westerman said Scrap Denton began six years ago when previous director, Donna Gregory visited the one in Oregon and realized the part it could play in the art scene.
“She visited and thought that Scrap would make a good fit for Denton,” Meyercord-Westerman said.
Meyercord-Westerman said that working with Scrap Denton has been a super fun job and they have fun doing fundraising.
The shop is a free-for-all for any creative to come in and explore what creative content they can make out of conventional supplies and not so conventional supplies. Everything is repriced to ridiculously affordable rates. Walking in with just $10 can have you leave with a varied and unique bag of dreams. It is here where someone’s trash can literally become someone’s treasure.
“It is important people know who we are,” Meyercord-Westerman said, “If there are people that have seen our building and haven’t come in we would encourage you to come in.”
Scrap Denton is always looking for volunteers to help organize and just help with the store. Scrap is located at 420 S Bell Ave, Denton, TX 76201.
Header image by Christopher Rodgers