The summer months will bring a visual transformation to the San Francisco Museum of Craft+Design. Four California artists will enhance the bricks and mortar of our galleries with installations intended as encompassing experiences. Using traditional craft materials of paper, fiber, metal, and wood, this large-scale exhibition will recontextualize these mediums, pushing their limits to new artistic heights. Be prepared to fully engage once you enter our Museum space, and to enjoy a new level of excitement at SFMC+D.

One of our past featured artists Christine Lee (wood) will be exhibiting at SFMCD. Along with Tanya Aguiniga (fiber), Paul Andrew Whayes (paper) and Thomas Hill (metal).

via SFMCD.org

This April 1st, take a chance to be fooled or not by Marco Zamora and Derek Albeck @ Fecal Face.

Working Proof has teamed up with Erik Otto to sell prints for Architecture for Humanity.  The Working Proof is a socially responsible commerce site that pulls together artists and non-profits to work together.  The artist will decide on what prints to give while working proof will promote their product and then give 15% to the organization of the artists choosing.  In this case Erik scavenged 25 record sleeves for his canvas to then make his prints by hand with house paint, spray paint and screen printing, which are then being sold to help the effort of Architecture for Humanity in Haiti.

Check out the site, a lot of great works for a great cause.

Christine Lee with the spirit to create by hand and the ambition to make the thrown away useful:

From my tendency to engage in highly process-driven tactile endeavors and my training in the craft based disciplines of woodworking and furniture design. i explore stretch and refine the typical associations and intended functions of mundane materials. My architecture and the natural environmnet, particularly where a strong connection exists between structure and site.

Shims and a thousand uses for them.

Phonebooks and their many new uses.  Why do I find these on my apartment steps? Its time to create an ordinance that phonebooks can only be delivered at request.

A perspective of unwanted phonebooks and their depth or as Christine would eloquently put:

the outdated phone book represents the weaving of a visual pattern found in organized information with a behavioral pattern existing in repetitive processes

A closeup of names and her creation

Her repetitive process creates as though it came from nature

Steel case meets paper

via missleelee

Because of years of weathering, each paper brick, made from old books, creates a unique look every time.

Made from waste papers and magazines, the compression of words on paper appears similar to pressure and time made granite.

Paper paperweights made from old unreadable novels.

Howes Percival Solicitors and Mantle Arts commission in Leicester. Representing the past and present of Howe’s Percival with letters.

Store your own papers and notes in this paper cabinet.

And of course, Hannah creates the obvious, ingenious bookends made from… that’s right, old books.

You can find Hannah’s work at Liberty, where design has been key since 1875.

Greetje van Tiem, a Dutch Designer has figured out a way to weave newspaper into classy material which can be used to upholster furniture…

…or weave into a curtain.

(Above) A closeup of the texture.  The process is deceivingly simple, it just takes time and patience.  Here’s how you do it.  Images via Dezeen

Manto a fashion label that brings back traditional Argentinian weaving has a collection appropriately called Rubber.

They successfully incorporate used tires into their patterns resulting in fresh, sturdy bags.  Via TreeHugger

Even plastic bags can be woven into a new life as a bag, carpet or whatever you wish.  Above are details of how nice the product can turn out.  If you feel inspired, find out how you can weave plastic.  Images via Homestead Weaver.

Something a little harder to weave for the ordinary craftsman is cassette tapes.  Alyce Santoro makes funky clothing and more that can actually play music.

Her label is called Sonic Fabric.  They have nice ties also for men.

Any other unorthodox material out there that can be turned into textile and be woven?  Let’s hear it!