Day 8 - Artwork by Jo Stodgle of UpCycle Santa Fe

In New Mexico, we are known for our chile but it might surprise some people to learn that we are also home to a vibrant art culture with prolific artists of all mediums. As I prepared for the “12 Days of New Mexican Christmas”, it was important for me to include artisans of food but also practicing artists that are working to make an impact on our communities. Today, we are focusing on a featured artist, Jo Stodgel. When Jo’s not painting, he’s on a mission to help communities, in particular Santa Fe, with waste management by Upcycling waste locally instead of recycling to reduce international waste. He founded the local company Upcycle Santa Fe that takes waste like an Ecobrick (explained later) and uses these materials to make modular furniture. Upcycle Santa Fe began in early 2014 after several years of exploring plastic waste upcycling practices and on the heels of a fellowship Jo did in Brooklyn with the DO School, a German organization focused on aiding young entrepreneurs.

Students of Monte Del Sol work on their ecobrick bench.

Jo explains further, “I got into the fellowship with my idea of setting up a new kind of waste management center that would focus on upcycling locally, rather than recycling internationally which is too often the case. We need a model of open source, decentralized, small-scale solutions for every common waste material in the world, and this is what Upcycle Santa Fe wants to be and become. In 2012, I started a festival of upcycling at the local dumpsite in the rural community of Greyton, South Africa, called the Trash to Treasure Festivals. Since then, I wanted to bring this work to my hometown of Santa Fe and anchor it here in some form, although I knew it would be quite different in our "more developed" context. It is my view that we don't necessarily have a better waste management system here in the USA; we are just so much better at sweeping trash under the carpet of landfill and shipping a ton of it overseas for "less developed" communities to deal with. Santa Fe is a rich place to be from and live in, and I am stoked to bring back all that I gathered in my travels and studies and share it here.”

Anyone can join in the upcycling revolution in a variety of ways. The simplest way to get involved is make an Ecobrick by densely stuffing a clean and dry plastic bottle with clean and dry plastic waste. Upcycle Santa Fe collects these at the wooden bin in front of 917 Don Juan Street and uses them as an alternative insulation material in constructions. Upcycle Santa Fe recently made a bench using Ecobricks with the help of students and volunteers at Monte Del Sol Charter School in Santa Fe. “Really our message is that anyone who sets their mind to it can deal responsibly with every material that enters into their hands or household,” Jo expresses.

For the 12 Days of New Mexican Christmas, Jo has created an original 8"x10" painting, made with oil paint pens on canvas and depicts a green and red chile holding hands in front of a Christmas tree and a farolito covered adobe building. Underneath can be read "Merry Christmas!" Jo explains, “It is an homage to the season, and to my favorite response to the question ’Red or green?’"

I asked Jo to tell me about his interest with art and how it developed. “I have always loved to draw since I was a wee one. By the time I was at Santa Fe High School, I was a proper oil paint snob who refused to go near acrylics. Only in the last few years have I gotten into acrylics, but have also incorporated a ton of random materials and mediums into my works, from plastic waste to coffee and paint pens. More recently, I have delved into drawing and painting on reclaimed wood with full respect for the grain - something that inspires me so much because it is inherently a conversation had with Nature.”

Old Boy & The Apple

Sacred Mountain

Solo Zozo

His art website can be found at spokeofsource.com - Anyone can contact Jo Stodgel directly if they are interested in a print of an existing artwork or in commissioning an original. 

To be eligible to win the #ChileChicaGiveaway - one item from each of the 12 Days of New Mexico Christmas (valued at over $200!) - you will need to do to the following:

1.       Repost any of the "12 Days" as they are posted now through December 23rd on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram - feel free to repost older days you have already read as well!

2.       Include the hashtag #ChileChicaGiveaway on all your reposts!

3.       Follow New Mexico Chiles; History, Legend and Lore on Facebook.

4.       Follow The Chile Film on Facebook.

Post everyday for your best chance to win. Each post will count as an additional entry; limit one per day per social media platform. We will announce the winner on Christmas Eve, and remember to have your privacy settings public so we can see your posts!