"The Beauty of Disposable Things"

You may have noticed that "green" is kind of a hip concept right now, having made Al Gore (of all people) cool, bottled water a public enemy and tossing an aluminum can in the trash practically a felony. But the artist Allison Merriweather has taken the concept of recycling to a whole new level in "The Beauty of Disposable Things," a new exhibition now on display at the Village Firefly. Just when you thought that tree branch floating in the Buffalo Bayou was utterly done for, she's collected it, along with salvaged bits of paper, pieces of pottery, sea glass and even metals like copper. Rejecting the notion that some things are just plain old useless, she's incorporated her found goods into works of art, mostly paintings depicting abstract, -fantasy-infused people and creatures. Viewing hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. 2422 Rice Boulevard. For information, call 713-522-2808 or visit www.thevillagefirefly.com. Free.
Oct. 3-31, 2008