The Artist In Residence Program

Mission Statement
The Artist In Residence Program at Recology San Francisco is an innovative program that inspires and educates people about recycling and resource conservation by providing local artists with access to materials, a work space, and other resources at our Solid Waste Transfer and Recycling Center.

Trash to Treasures
Since 1990, artists have worked in a large, well-equipped studio next to our Transfer Station west of Highway 101 near Monster Park in San Francisco. The Transfer Station is located within a 44-acre property that includes several recycling facilities and the Public Disposal Area (also known as "the dump").

Art is created from what would have been sent with the rest of San Francisco's trash to landfills across the Bay or recycling plants across the nation.

The Company Provides

• 24-hour access to the facilities.
• A large, well-equipped studio space.
• A reception at the end of the residency (including design and printing of invitations, refreshments, assistance setting up).
• Miscellaneous supplies and equipment.
• Monthly Stipend.

Expectations of the Artist In Residence

• Work in the studio either 40 hours per week for a full-time residency or 20 hours per week for a half-time residency.
• Greet and talk to tour groups in the late morning around 10 a.m. on weekdays and on the third Saturday of the month.
• Make a few pieces of art for the company's permanent art collection.
• Use materials found in San Francisco's waste stream.
• Be available to talk with the media.
• Leave all of the art created during your residency with the company for 12 months.

The goal of the Artist In Residence Program at Recology San Francisco is to use art to inspire people to recycle more and conserve natural resources. The company provides selected local artists with the opportunity to create art using materials they gather from San Francisco's refuse. This includes 24-hour access to a well-equipped studio, a monthly stipend, and an exhibit at the end of their residency, but artists seem most excited about having 24-hour access to the materials.

The 2,000-square-foot art studio is located at Recology San Francisco Solid Waste Transfer and Recycling Center. The 44-acre site is where most of San Francisco's garbage and recyclables are temporarily dumped before going to a landfill or recycling plant. Recyclable items are sorted before being shipped to recycling plants and manufacturing facilities.

Throughout a residency, each artist talks to young students and adult tour groups about the experience of turning trash into treasures. At the conclusion of their residency, the company holds a reception for the artists, to show the artist's work and invites the public. Many pieces of art from the program are exhibited in office building entries and public spaces in San Francisco. Many artists have made a permanent piece for the sculpture garden adjacent to the Recology San Francisco Transfer Station and the garden is a key stop for students on recycling tours.

For information about the program, please call (415) 330-1415 or e-mail the Artist In Residence Program.