New York artists Barbara Lubliner, Bernard Klavickas, Shari Mendelson, Janet Nolan, Olivia Kaufman-Rovira, Ilene Sunshine and Tyrome Tripoli are upcyclers. They turn garbage into art. Upcycling, according to Wikipedia, is “the process of converting waste materials…into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.” The term is on everyone’s lips these days—and why not? With increasing numbers of shopping bags flapping in trees and plastic six-pack yokes skittering down streets, it shouldn’t surprise us that environmental detritus would get funneled through the creative process as often as the recycling plant.

Why? First, garbage is cheap and artists are poor. Any material that is free and freely available will attract artists. Second, artists see beauty where others see ugliness. Who else could look at an empty, dirty, plastic soda bottle and see a nascent work of art? Finally, artists are the original Transformers—they are real super heroes who use their considerable creative powers to save us from the demeaning effects of irresponsible corporate practices, blind consumerism and mass media consumption. They transform the leftovers of our overly-packaged lives into a banquet for the eye and the psyche. See for yourself! “Upcycled” is on exhibit at the Educational Alliance’s Ernest Rubenstein Gallery through January 20, 2011. There is an artists’ talk on Wednesday, January 12th. Contact the Alliance for the time.

Visit ArtSlant to see more images from the show. Photo of Shari Mendelson’s work (above) by Robert Wright.