Cristina Montejo

I’m absolutely smitten with this new set of “coasters” I snagged for free yesterday at a ZeroLandfill event in downtown Toledo. They’re actually samples from a set of ALLSTATE custom rubber tiles refurbished into coasters, which I’ve desperately needed for the longest time but never felt like actually paying/shopping for. What a perfect solution!

ZeroLandfill is a beneficial reuse program held seasonally around Ohio that supports the supply needs of local artists and arts educators while reducing pressure on local landfill capacity. Historically, most expired specification samples usually end up in the waste stream at the end of their lives. ZeroLandfill collaborates with members of the interior design and architectural community to collect those materials before they end up at the dump and offers them to individuals free of charge who find value in the materials as classroom or studio supplies. What an amazing program!!!!

Besides the coasters, I also found these great little hanging color swatches for doodling on, some wallpaper for drawing/reconstructing, and a 10 pound bag of random puzzle pieces to be used as cd packaging for my friend Mark’s new cd Fragments. This was the most amazing find of the day by far! We had joked about somehow putting puzzles pieces in the cd packaging but never dreamed we’d find this crazy bag full of them in all different sizes to actually pull it off. I love when artistic coincidences like this happen – a little nod from the universe that you’re on the right path!

I don’t know if they replenish the piles of stuff or what but there’s going to be one more of these events next Friday – May 15th – from noon to 6pm. Check it out if you happen to be in downtown Toledo or if you’re in need of some free art materials. Also, check out their website to find out where else they’ll be holding events like these during the upcoming summer months. You can expect to find anything from carpet and upholstery swatches, wall coverings/papers, brick, stone, glass, tile and metal samples to a big bag of puzzle pieces! 

Happy hunting! 

Location: 1301 Adams Street, Toledo, OH