Recycled Art in Sebastopol

I recently taught my students a unit about recycled materials and green design, and it opened my eyes to the many uses of found materials, from reusing structures like shipping containers and busses to salvaging glass and old car parts for new homes and restaurants. We learned that reusing materials is not only good for the environment  but also saves money. A restaurant that’s made by assembling and remodeling used shipping containers (like The Federalist in Sacramento) is much cheaper than one that has to be designed and built from the ground up.

Soon after that my family and I spent a long weekend in Sonoma wine country and came upon a town full of whimsical “junk art.” As soon as we approached Sebastopol on one of the small rural roads, past little farms and fields of yellow mustard, we noticed some colorful sculptures here and there, perhaps pointing out the entrance to a local business. But we were headed for the best place to see the “junk art” of Patrick Amiot and Brigitte Laurent: the street they call home, Florence Avenue.

This quiet residential street just outside the center of town is lined with typical Northern California homes– quaint bungalows and Victorians with xeriscaped front lawns of native plants and succulents or raised beds of seasonal vegetables.

But soon after turning onto the street, we spotted colorful metal dogs and cats on a front lawn, and then a skeleton driving a red motorcycle, and then a waitress caught mid stride running with a tray. House after house is decorated with the art of Amiot and Laurent.

As you continue down the street, you’ll notice one house in particular because it’s loaded with these sculptures, including a huge dinosaur (above). That’s the home of the artists. Patrick Amiot creates the sculptures and his wife, Brigitte Laurent, paints them. You’ll also notice that the art lining the street creates a fun sense of community. 

My kids, ages 10 and 7, loved this outing. They tried to figure out what the different pieces of found objects were (Are the eyes made out of headlights? Oh look, this guy has a wrench for a nose!) and by the end started making a list of their favorite pieces.

Learn more about Sebastopol’s “junk sculptures” in this recent Washington Post article.

Have you seen recycled art like this before? I’d love to hear about it!