Thank you all for your enthusiasm and engaging questions as you delve into your Mystery Trash containers! We’re so excited to see what you create.

One question that has come up from several of you is a very important one: Do I need to use all of the material provided?” In short Yes.

The spirit of the Mystery Trash Remix, and a core tenet of our zero-waste initiative, is to challenge ourselves to use 100% of the materials including the container. We want to celebrate creative reuse in its most complete form. Therefore, we *highly recommend* that you embrace the challenge of incorporating every last piece.

We understand that some bits and bobs can be puzzling! To that end, we’ve brainstormed some creative ways you might use those leftover pieces, whether they are scraps, odd shapes, or tiny items:

Creative Ideas for Using Every Last Scrap:

Incorporate into Your Artwork:

• Stuffing & Filling: Use crumpled paper, plastic wrappers, or small containers and plastic cutlery as stuffing for cavities in a sculpture.
• Add to Structure: flatten and Glue to the back of your structure. This can add structural integrity.
• Mosaic & Inlay: Small, hard pieces like bottle caps, broken plastic, or plastic containers can be crushed, cut, or arranged to create mosaic patterns or inlaid details on the surface of your piece.
• Composite Material: Shredded or torn materials can be mixed with a binder (like glue, flour paste, or melted plastic) to create a new, unique composite material for modeling or texturing.
• Sprinkles” & Confetti: Punch holes in plastic, cut up colorful bits, and use them like glitter or confetti to add a final layer of detail.
• Fringe : For 2-D work add a bottom fringe using shredded materials.

Integrate with Your Presentation (for the Opening Night):

• Wearable Accents: Attach small items to your clothing as a wearable extension of your art for the opening reception. Think of it as an accessory that ties you directly to your creation.
• Base or Plinth: Smaller leftover elements can be glued or assembled to create a unique, custom base or stand for your main artwork.
• Interactive Element: Could a small leftover piece become a pull-string, a dangly element, or something that invites touch?

Remember, the “trash” is your medium. The constraint of using it all is the very catalyst for innovation that defines this contest. Don’t be afraid to get experimental—pulverize, melt, weave, bundle, or embed. The goal is to give every piece a new life.

If you are facing a specific challenge with a particular material, please feel free to reply to this email. The community of artists is a great resource, and we are happy to help brainstorm solutions!

Thank you for embracing the zero-waste challenge with such creativity. We cannot wait to see the incredible, inventive ways you transform your entire container of mystery materials.