Local Artists and College Students Transform Community Trash and Found Materials into Art

The smART Gallery will host the closing reception for "Neuse Reuse," a unique community art exhibition featuring trash-terpieces created entirely from discarded materials and litter collected during local cleanups. The event will take place on Thursday, September 24 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the smART Gallery, located at 210 N. Queen St.

Spearheaded by smART Kinston Foundation resident artist Annelise Brady, the exhibition highlights the creative potential of everyday waste, turning objects ranging from cardboard and fast-food bags to aluminum can tabs and broken glass into compelling visual art. The project aims to promote neighborhood cleanup efforts while proving that discarded objects can still hold hidden aesthetic value.

Even community members who have previously visited the exhibition will find something fresh at the closing reception. The event will debut brand-new, never-before-seen pieces created specifically for the show by Lenoir Community College’s Sculpture I students.

In addition to pieces by local artists, "Neuse Reuse" also features collaborative artwork developed during the smART Kinston Foundation’s art outreach programming with local community organizations RADD (Raising Awareness for the Developmentally Disabled) and Recovery Together ENC.

The public is encouraged to stop by, support the artists, and view the innovative ways they’re reimagining waste. The closing reception is free and open to the public.

About the smART Gallery

Opened in 2019, the smART Gallery is located in the heart of downtown Kinston. The smART Gallery supports local artists and fosters community engagement through creative art programming and public exhibitions.

About the smART Kinston Foundation

Founded in 2014, the smART Kinston Foundation is dedicated to building a vibrant Kinston and Lenoir County by cultivating an arts-driven economy and championing creative placemaking that enriches community life.