The Adlington Post

After viewing an art exhibition of constructions made with Mecanno pieces, I have devised a 21st Century version : FREECANNO - an open-sourced educational toy made from found stuff. This Freecanno is an educational toy is based on the familiar Mecanno set. The kit includes a variety of plastic, wood, & metal construction components with holes drilled in them, as well as some hardware for joining pieces together - nuts & bolts, screws, & nails. Further holes can be drilled & pieces can otherwise be adapted to suit - tools will have to be obtained separately. As Picasso said: “Computers are stupid- they only give you answers”. The Freecanno concept is designed to both stimulate the imagination & to instigate processes of enquiry: “What can I make?.. how can I make it?.. how can I join these together?.. how can I cut/drill/whatever this?.. what do I need to make......?” As the Freecanno system is open-sourced, there are not more bigger, more expensive, s

A close-up of a work I made from beach trash with reflections in the window. Recycled art is fun, & when you get tired of the piece it can go straight into the recycled bin! See more of my  recycled, upcycled and environmental works at www.martinadlington.webs.com

I have just finished my first animated video: watch Barbie do her thing - for a good cause

I have been experimenting with my new scanner to make this image. With genetic engineering in the news I am pondering some of the possibilities with my artwork.

Today I gave some of my Barbie collection a make-over...from top to bottom: "Tattoo Barbie", "Buddha Barbie", "Paper Bag Princess", "Breast Cancer Barbie", " Terrorist Barbie - happiness is a warm gun"..

For a long time I have been inspired by the art of Andy Goldsworthy & Rosalie Gasgoigne.These artists have helped me find my own way of seeing & of presenting the objects I find. This "Knitting Needle Mandala" is the first example of my own exploration of the abstract sculptural qualities of forms. See more of my  recycled, upcycled and environmental works at www.martinadlington.webs.com

The junk collection continues to grow! I have become more selective in my gatherings, bringing home mainly smaller items for future use, otherwise I would soon run out of space. See more of my recycled, upcycled and environmental works at www.martinadlington.webs.com

Last Thursday I was invited to have a stall with my recycled artwork at the inaugural "First Thursday" art event in St Kevin's Arcade in K Rd, AK. With free cider & loud music the crowd had a good time. Sales were slow - hopefully better next time. See more of my trashion pieces as well as recycled, upcycled and environmental works at www.martinadlington.webs.com

Yesterday I had a stall at the annual Grey Lynn Festival. I was invited into the new "Eco Space" with other stalls of an environmental nature: Grey Lynn Farmers Market, Grey Lynn Waste Away, Grey Lynn 2030, 350, Oooby, as well as urban gardens. See more of my  recycled, upcycled and environmental works at www.martinadlington.webs.com

I made this nikau palm from plastic drink bottles. On Saturday 24th September I will have a stall at the 350 environmental event at Mt Eden- where I will be demonstrating craft projects for recycling plastic drink bottles, as well as selling my recycled artworks & trashion pieces. 350 Maunga Action * 3:30-4:50pm Join in with other Aucklanders on the Real Icons of Auckland to call out for change for 350. Bring your voice and instruments - tell every music group you know! Maungawhau | Mt Eden http:// www.350.org/node/5747 fb: http:// www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=113834797830 3:30pm for karakia, ends 4:50 so you can amble along to: 350 Festival * 5pm-7pm The key-stone in Auckland's combined action: Gather with the whole 350 community to celebrate the day http://www. 350.org/node/8755 fb: http:// www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=165945354531 Tahaki Reserve, at the base of Mt. Eden 5pm till sun-down around 7pm

Here is my dumpster-diving buddie Laurie with her daughter Hannah with the bags we made for the Textile Art Show at the Depot Art Gallery

Here are the two major prize-winners from the Junk2Funk recycled art show held on Waiheke Island last weekend. Sue Hunter's '50's-style flounced dress, bag & hat made from Vogel's bread wrappers & other plastic bags won Senior "Local Heros" as well as "Best Overall". Kerry Appleton's dress made from old entry tickets to past Junk2Funk shows won Intermediate "Local Heroes" as well as the "Supreme Sustainability" award.

Waiheke creatives do their recycled art thing in paradise!

I have been invited to be a judge at this year's "Junk to Funk" : "After a year’s break, Waiheke’s recycling fashion show is set to capture the imagination of the island’s environmentally aware, as Gill Alcock finds out...All the fun of the island’s very own recycling extravaganza returns in spring after a year off.Waiheke Waste Resource Trust’s Junk to Funk, the fashion show with a difference, captures the imagination of budding fashionistas and adds a green edge, making it one of the most popular events on Waiheke’s calendar. As always, this year’s show, on 2 and 3 October, will be an opportunity for everyone to get creative while showing off their commitment to recycling, sustainability and environmental awareness.And while many enter the event from an altruistic bent, participants will be in to win cash prizes from a pool of $5,000, donated by local businesses.This year there are five entry categories under the titles of Junk to Funktional,

Where I belong...in a dumpster!: expounding Post Modern Trash Theory to people from AK Uni - audio & video of the interview following shortly on mywebsite & Youtube channel... On Thursday 13th August I will be talking with environmental guru Tim Lynch on GreenPlanet FM 104.6: "How Joe Six-Pack Can Help Save the World"...available later on podcast from www.greenplanetfm.com

I found these guys on the web... www.computerrecycling.co.nz/e-day.html Looks good - I will approach them about an e-collection day here in Browns Bay, & see if they are interested in some artwork to promote their business...

These gals have dresses made from printed strips of plastic tape about 18in [46cm] wide - what a great idea for recycled wearable art!!

Today I finished five robots made from biscuit, sweet, & tea tins. They all have a light as one of their arms. Four have gone to the Salvation Army Store in Browns Bay - where they are stocking some of my work. The fifth one will be part of a prize in a promotion for the SPCA Op Shop - watch this space for details.

AT Queen's Birthday Weekend I spoke at a seminar ["Craft Plus"] on contemporary craft, at the Waiheke Community Art Gallery. My talk was entitled "From Barbie to Buddha, Paradise Regained - How Recycled Art Can Save the World". Other speakers included Paul Kayser from www.cleverbarsards.com & Esther Lamb from www.toggle.com The Gallery also held a recycled art exhibition - & all my works sold!!..see the red dots below. ...for the text of my talk see http://www.craftplus.blogspot.com

Follow this link to see the feature on my recycled art on TV1 Breakfast earlier in May: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWRcfeLfeNg