This wonderful mixed media assemblage called Pedal to the Metal is by Jim Ulrich, a member of Dumpster Divers of Philadelphia. As soon as I moved back to Philly and heard about the Dumpster Divers I felt like I had found my tribe! I had been making art from re-cycled found objects, discarded or broken things, and thrift shop and garage sale treasures for years in San Diego, in isolation from other assemblage artists. Amazingly, I reconnected with a friend I knew from early Philadelphia days decades ago, who turned out to be a Dumpster Diver and brought me into the group. I just attended my second monthly meeting, and feel like I have come home! http://www.dumpsterdivers.org/.
Isaiah Zagar, the well known mosaic artist and muralist behind http://www.phillymagicgardens.org/, was at this month's Diver meeting, along with his dog Blue. I recognized him, but was too shy to speak to him. As we were leaving, he held out his hands to me and asked my name. I told him and he enfolded me in a warm close hug. I said "I never expected to ever be able to meet you in person." "You're a good girl," he said. I am farklempt.
Isaiah Zagar
