The GLEAN Program invites artists to push the boundaries of material exploration. With a stipend to support their practice and seemingly endless materials to work with, artists are challenged to expand their existing studio practice by making work from the materials gleaned from the Metro Central Transfer Station (aka, “the dump”). One of the goals of this program is to introduce established and emerging artists to the wealth of materials available to them through the GLEAN. With the ultimate goal to reduce waste and raise awareness with this program, no prior experience with discarded materials is required. All artists in the Portland area are encouraged to apply.
Every year, five local artists chosen by a jury of arts and environmental professionals are given access to the Metro Central transfer station for five months to glean discarded materials to make art. The program culminates with an exhibition of their works in the summer at a local gallery.
GLEAN is an expansion of the internationally recognized Recology Artist in Residence Program, which began in San Francisco in the 1990s. For over a decade, Recology’s partnership with Metro and Cracked Pots has allowed the program to expand its mission and reach a broader audience.
2022 Artists
Past Artists
Apply
GLEAN accepts applications from artists residing in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. We will begin accepting applications for next year on January 1, 2023.
Eligibility & Selection
A board of arts and environmental professionals will choose new artists from the Portland area to participate in the program. The artists will have access to the Metro Central transfer station (aka, the “dump”) to glean materials to use to create art. The program culminates in a formal exhibition in the fall.
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- Artists will have the opportunity to glean materials from the Metro Central transfer station for six months.
- Each artist will be required to create a minimum of eight pieces available for sale at the exhibition.
- Ninety-five percent of each piece must be created from materials gleaned from the transfer station.
- Each artist will be paid a $2,000 stipend upon the successful completion of the program.
- Each artist will receive an 80% commission from the sale of their art at the 2016 exhibition.
- Recology and Metro will each retain one piece from each artist for public exhibition.
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- Questions
Contact Deborah Munk if you would like to be added to the list for future Call for Artists and/or exhibition notices at art@recology.com or 415.330.1415.