Israeli Artist Turns Discarded Materials into Giant Flowers, Finds New Purpose
Reut Gilutz, a 39-year-old artist from Rehovot, has transformed her passion for creating with recycled materials into her primary vocation, defining herself as a "community upcycling artist." Her home is filled with paper flowers and various creations made from discarded items. Gilutz explained that a recent surge of creative energy compelled her to dedicate more time to art, finding that conforming to other structures stifled her freedom. She coined the term 'Meyadush' (a portmanteau of recycling and renewal) to describe her process of transforming old objects into new ones, such as turning old clothes into bags or encyclopedias into wallets.
Gilutz's artistic journey began in childhood, repurposing hand-me-down items. For the past twenty years, she worked in rehabilitation and social support, where creativity was essential for helping those in need. Her experience managing a rehabilitation facility for individuals with mental health challenges exposed her to the importance of community and the potential of upcycling. Due to budget constraints and a desire to involve the community, she encouraged donations of materials, discovering a strong desire among people to give. This led to the creation of various items from old atlases, books, and other worn-out materials.
Following the October 7th attacks, Gilutz felt a renewed sense of purpose, focusing on the concept of 'repair' in a spiritual sense. In June 2024, she organized a community event called 'Repair,' which included fashion repair, upcycling, and secondhand exchanges. A pivotal moment occurred when she created giant paper flowers from old sheet music and atlases for this event, incorporating the color yellow to acknowledge current events. The positive community response to these flowers, many of which were made by participants, solidified her commitment to this artistic path.
Now, Gilutz leads workshops and gives lectures on upcycling, community collaboration, and creating with available resources, emphasizing respect for the past and consideration for the future. She has launched a website to showcase her work. Gilutz acknowledges the challenge of taking up space as an artist, particularly as a woman, but feels life is too short not to prioritize her art. While she is exploring ways to monetize her work, including bartering flowers for groceries, her primary focus is on sharing her inspiration and the transformative power of art. She is also involved in research and childcare to support her artistic endeavors.
Looking ahead, Gilutz is excited to co-found World Trash Day on October 21st, aiming to shift societal perceptions of waste and encourage creative reuse. She finds joy and solace in creating flowers, especially in recent years, as they bring her small moments of happiness.
