Angie Runnels Repurposes the Found and Discarded into the Beautiful and Useful

By Sharon Parker

Angie Runnels creates her artwork from found and discarded materials—or, as she describes it, “repurposing items of beauty into collage, mixed media, jewelry and sculpture.” She also does quilting.

She is returning for her third LoLa art crawl this year, and will be holding forth at Merlin’s Rest, 3601 East Lake Street, Minneapolis, about which she says, “Come for the art and stay for the amazing food and the Whisky Bible Liturgy.”

(I might add that Merlin’s can also serve a very good pot of English tea, if that’s more your bent. And they are now open for breakfast at 9 a.m. on weekends.—SP)

What inspires you and informs your art?

My work was originally inspired by the classic Rorschach Test.  It fascinated me how people can look at something seemingly amorphous and see things there.  I never sit down with the thought of creating something specific.  I divine through the materials before me what they will be.  This is all made possible through consummate observation of both the macro- and micro- universe.  What fits with what?  What could this be?

What do you like about LoLa?

LoLa is like a flower opening up only once a year.  You are able to see what beauty resides inside these houses and businesses, which normally seem like your everyday, mundane places.

You can see more of Angie’s work, and get news about any other events she may be participating in as the summer unfolds, on her Tumblr site, AngRu Art. 

Visit her Facebook page here.