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Christy Carter
CANADA
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"My main focus is on enhancing items that have outlived their purpose, such as broken, unused, and out-of-style objects.”
Christy Carter Resides in North Delta B.C., Canada, and is a self-taught artist. Living in such a diverse area, she finds inspiration everywhere. From the mountains to the beaches and everything in between, nature overflows. Christy works at home in her studio, surrounded by the four humans she loves and her two dogs, Lucky and Bradshaw.
Repurposed Nature | Mixed Media
$200
I thought about each piece of my creation before I placed them in their final spot. I thought about the base of this creation, a block of wood made from a cast-off of the plank of wood used maybe in someone's house. I thought about the used stamps, how far they may have traveled, and the stories they are hiding. I imagined the fishing bobber used for the body of my creation, floating on the lake and an eager fisherman waiting for his catch. All of it has come together in this one creation.
While she works, she listens to all sorts of music and follows her creativity. Christy was exposed to life-changing events while growing up that could have left her feeling scarred, damaged, and used. Art and creativity provided her with a way to express herself while helping her get through these challenging years.
Copper Bird and Nest | Mixed Media
$200
This creation came to be, with many items from the past coming together. A cast-off piece of wood sanded smooth and given new life. A nest, made of old wires found at the back of a garage. Placed inside this nest are 3 vintage beads from a broken necklace, perfect eggs. The bird is made of used wine corks, I imagine they may have been from a night of celebration. The used stamps may have been from love letters. The wings are made from a vintage belt, oh the dances it has seen.
Like her creations, she has transformed her life into what she wants, not what she has. Christy Carter's most satisfying moment was when she sold her first piece of art. It was a happy moment to see that someone else could share her vision. Christy decided to put herself out there and entered some online competitions.
“When I recycle these broken, unwanted items, it makes me feel empowered.”
The artist has had her work on display in the Pittmeadows Art Gallery for their exhibition called “The Art of Upcycling” which went from July 23, 2021- to Sept 5, 2021. She has won honorable mention on a few of her creations with Art Show International 2021 as well. During an online competition with Grey Cube Gallery, Christy won an honorable mention for two of her creations for the Animal Art Show in April 2021. Additionally, she has been featured in the May 2021 edition of an online magazine (Outsider Art Magazine).
Caracal African Cat | Mixed Media
$240
The thoughts that ran through my mind while creating this cat were many. Corks from long romantic evenings used to make legs. The body, a vintage float used on the Fraser River to catch fish, decoupaged with 1890's sheet music played many times. I wonder how many people's lives have been touched by these items.
Used wires from the back of a garage, a fishing float from a retired commercial fisherman, an old yard tool handle, a paster, and paint all came together to create this wonderful creature. so many lives were touched by this one creation. Now on to the next story for this piece.
Fennec African Fox | Mixed Media
$240
These items have a history, when Christy is working with these items, she thinks of all the lives they have touched. Bringing them back from the dead for a new life to live.
“This world is always changing and many things go to waste, so any chance I get to save items from the past I take it and creates my art.”
“It is very satisfying for me to turn items that would end up in a landfill into art pieces that portray the beauty of nature.”
Her mind races with excitement as she thinks about how these items are being valued again, and how the environment in a small way is being helped. Christy's creations represent how she feels about the past and the future. She feels she is preserving history and informing the future.
Shrew Shrew | Mixed Media
$120
While making this little guy I thought about where the shrew is from and how hard life must be for this little guy. I also thought about the Items I used to make this creation and thought about the lives that these items were a part of and I wonder if the people using them struggled too.
Christy often gets asked how she even thought to make her pieces. It comes from within, where her feelings are hidden and are waiting to be found.
Canadian Hedgehog | Mixed Media
$160
When creating this hedgehog I wondered about the stories behind the objects I was about to use to create my creation. Stamps from letters mailed across Canada with important messages, to carpet nails left over from a carpet job to fishing floats used to feed families on the Fraser River in BC Canada. I think about all the lives this one creation is made up of and what is next.
The objects spark something hidden deep inside. She thinks to herself, these items aren't worthless, they can be valued and loved again. Then she just has to make it, to turn these unused items from a useless unwanted piece, into something that invokes feelings and love.
I had many thoughts while making this creation, how gentle these creatures look and how graceful they are. I thought about the colors of stamps I would use, how these stamps traveled the world and ended up here for me to use, and how they would go from one to another adventure after me.
African Giraffe | Mixed Media
$450
“I find it fascinating that these objects have a past life and they can be given a new one.”
down the rabbit hole | Mixed Media
$250
This creation was inspired by a broken "Alice in Wonderland "charm bracelet that I found at a garage sale. It brought me back to my childhood when things were simpler. I thought of the Sundays spent watching Disney movies with my family and the warm dinner we would have after.
It's a strong overwhelming feeling and she has to finish it to completion. Christy usually makes nature-themed creations as she connects with nature. Nature makes her feel at peace, a calm comes over her and she starts working.
While looking at the pink stamps from around the world, it came to me, that this is the perfect piggy color. I just had to make a pig and it came together so perfectly.
This Little Piggy | Mixed Media
$180
Christy loves working in mixed media sculpture 3D as each side is so different, as with life and she needs to see all sides to complete a full picture. Her sculptures need to tell all sides of their story. Having texture and layering is important to Christy, using all sorts of media gives her art depth not only visually but also with the stories that come along with it.
Tornado | Mixed Media
$250
When I found "The Wizard of OZ " charms at a garage sale I knew exactly what I was going to create. The tornado just spoke to me, it made me think of the times when my childhood wasn't perfect. Where turmoil lived, but now is frozen in time. I'm no longer affected I am free. I think of how far I have come.
“Finding new treasures, with history, sparks new creativity within my soul, and this is what keeps me creating.”
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