I explore the creative possibilities of the discards of our throwaway culture by deconstructing materials such as canceled postage stamps, security envelopes, junk mail, produce tabs and coffee sleeves to discover new combinations and inventive images which at times reference the ingenious and artistic expressions of early quilters.

As a child emigre from Latvia, I enjoyed a rich bicultural upbringing which encouraged a unique perspective on my surroundings. The Latvian culture of my parents is rich in tradition and crafts as well as music and folk tales. My mother graduated technical high school in Latvia with a focus in fibers. She continued her love of fiber, constantly having a needlework in hand when the day’s work was done. Being thrifty immigrants, my parents taught me by example to value materials and to be creative in reusing. Being attracted to visual contrasts and the unexpected, I was intrigued by the possibilities of integrating traditional fiber technique with non-traditional material such as wire and plastic tubing with the fiber. That led to assembling quilts composed totally of everyday plastic, contrary to the usual art material of the day.

At work, while checking mail, the American flag stamp, with its strong red, white and blue color, the stripes and design, caught my eye. I then cut and rearranged the stamps to reflect a kaleidoscopic design. Then later noting the interior side of the envelopes on which the stamps were affixed, their varied color and pattern led me to incorporate them into the designs.

I am excited by my current use of coffee to-go cups, their sleeves, and other related paraphernalia and continue to explore its potential. I am interested in how the elements can echo each other, how they can be ordered into strong designs. My reusing trash has intrigued friends and strangers and enthused them to contribute raw material for me, a collaboration of sorts. A bag of stamps or a bag of coffee sleeves I have often found on my doorstep or in my mailbox.

Velga’s Process:

I find challenge and excitement in picking up an everyday object that catches my eye and manipulating it to bring out its potential with design, color, and any other of its unique qualities. The longer you explore that category of objects, the deeper you go and discover more opportunities for richer designs. I have cut and reassembled pieces “on point” to make a strong visual kaleidoscopic design. I have explored numerous media over quite a few years. Being a contrarian and seeing already successful artwork in more usual media, I wanted the challenge of using the unusual to see what I could do with it.

I’ve used as media: canceled postage stamps, security envelopes, business reply cards, junk mail, plastic produce tabs, and then explored an array of other plastic discards: movie film, Easter grass, foam meat trays, blister packs, and other household plastics. Currently I am exploring the potential of coffee ephemera: paper to-go coffee cups, jackets, bags, etc. Being a coffee drinker and having supportive friends who are, keeps me supplied with raw material. Using quilting designs was a way to organize the disparate material. I admire quilt designs but do not use fabric as my material. Though I have machine stitched and hand stitched in my work.

Repurposing everyday material comes naturally to me as my parents and I are immigrants from Latvia coming to the US with only two suitcases. Repurposing was a way to survive, save and get ahead. The Latvian culture is steeped in crafts, having traditional designs used often individually by the craftswomen. My mother always had a needlework in progress after her workday was done.

My degree is in art though a day job was necessary, and art was developed evenings and weekends. I’ve taken numerous workshops to explore and learn various media and techniques. I have exhibited my work throughout the Midwest. Involved others in collaborative projects where I have prepared and then assembled the finished work for exhibition, including University of Iowa Hospitals, Marion Arts Festival, and some Cedar Rapids schools. Conducted workshops using found materials. My work was selected for the Arts in Embassy’s program of the State Department. My work is in a number of collections in the area.