Ginko Lee: Crafting Connections
Artist Ginko Lee’s residency, Crafting Connections, enters its second phase with a two-week solo exhibition at Remainders Creative Reuse Gallery 787, a cornerstone of Pasadena’s upcycling and creative community. The project centers around the importance of sustainability and reuse in contemporary art through the lens of collaboration and community. Ginko’s exhibition will showcase a vibrant mix of upcycled artwork, home goods, and an interactive component using a one-of-a-kind tricycle-driven pom-pom machine designed by Ginko and her partner, Scoop! Additionally, Kiki Joel, the store manager of Remainders will participate with their own Pom-Pom.
Ginko’s project unfolds in three phases:
In phase one, Repair Cafe Pasadena, held an event at Side Street Projects headquarters in the early Fall of 2024, along with a free skillshare led by Ginko titled, “Screen Print Your Own Upcycled Fashion”. Attendees brought their own used garments or sorted through our free market to find items they could screenprint on. Holding this workshop in conjunction with Repair Cafe was a special way to demonstrate all the ways we can reuse and recycle our own belongings to bring new life to them.
The second phase of Ginko’s residency is the opening exhibition of Crafting Connections. It will be held at Remainders Creative Reuse Gallery 787 on Saturday, April 12th from 2 pm - 4:30 pm. Ginko’s exhibition will include her artwork, an interactive component using the tricycle-driven pom-pom machine she designed with her partner, Scoop, and Kiki Joel’s own big Pom-Pom. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own fabric or yarn to add to the Pom Pom Ginko and Scoop have started. The interactive component will only be available on the exhibition's opening day. The exhibition will run from April 12th through April 26th.
Her patchwork visually demonstrates the process of combining used materials to create a new, unique piece of fabric or item. The interactive component alludes to patchwork in a more metaphorical sense, a patchwork of community members coming together with various materials to create one art piece.
The final phase of Ginko’s project, the Mini Material Market, will take place in early May 2025. Showcasing surplus materials and prototypes from over 10 local artists and makers, it offers a chance to repurpose unique remnants while sparking fresh creativity. Artists can recoup costs, and patrons can discover one-of-a-kind supplies at incredible prices. More than just a marketplace, Ginko envisions it as a space for makers, tinkerers, and craftspeople to connect, exchange ideas, and inspire reuse.
Crafting Connections aims to draw attention to sustainability in art through Ginko, showcasing her own sustainable work and creating spaces for others to participate. This project intends to respect each individual as a whole person with unique life circumstances, offering a humanistic and empathetic ear and companionship as they navigate the exciting and often uncharted journey of becoming a self-sustaining artist or maker. Each member is not only a recipient of assistance but also a source of strength and resources, providing wisdom and support that others in this peer group can rely on.
This project is funded by the Pasadena Community Foundation.
BIO
Ginko Lee is an imaginative ceramics and fabric artist, as well as a dedicated community organizer. Ginko bridges the gap between private creativity and public engagement. Through her ongoing work with Repair Cafe Pasadena, she transforms the solitary act of art creation into a vital component of a dynamic, community-driven movement.
In 2024, Ginko Lee was invited to “develop projects and/or programs that create ongoing connections and are mutually beneficial with our surrounding community while considering TIC principles. ,” based on Side Street Projects Artist Residency theme “Possibility Prances: A place for matters to rest”.