Woman creates artwork to benefit new theater
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Yvonne Matthews, of Harlem, shows off many of the items that she saved from being thrown away at the former Columbia Theatre. She created art from the items to sell to benefit the theater's refurbishing.
Photo by Valerie Rowell
Yvonne Matthews has a knack for recognizing beauty in peculiar places such as Dumpsters and trash piles.
"I hate to see things thrown in the trash," Matthews said. "I love to find old junk and try to do something with it."
The self-proclaimed "crafty person" is now putting her creative treasure-hunting and craft-painting skills to work for the Harlem Economic Development and Industry Foundation and its efforts to refurbish Harlem's former Columbia Theatre. Matthews, of Harlem, rescued plenty of what most people considered trash from the Dumpster during the cleanup of the building during the past few months.
"I grabbed everything that I could get my hands on that they were going to toss," she said. "I was going bananas when we were cleaning that theater out. I wanted everything."
The city's Harlem Foundation bought the building in January with plans to renovate it into a cultural arts center. Matthews is taking the recyclable items and using her artistic skills to turn them into treasures, which she sells to benefit the theater renovation.
She accumulated a variety of items including bottles, jars, crown and picture-frame molding, old saw blades, table legs, keys, metal and folding chairs.
Yvonne Matthews has refurbished and painted this old drawer side as she has done with other items found in the former ColumbiaTheatre. The items are displayed at community events and are being sold to benefit the theater's refurbishing.
Photo by Valerie Rowell
The molding easily becomes a roof for birdhouses, and the keys become perches. An old table leg becomes the pedestal, and drawer hardware easily turns into metal decorations on the rustic birdhouses.
Matthews transforms old tea cups and saucers into elegant bird feeders by gluing the cup to the saucer, then gluing a pole to the bottom of the saucer, said Ann Blalock, the chairwoman of the city's Historic Preservation Commission and the head of the foundation.
"She has an eye for picking out color and things, things that I wouldn't choose," Blalock said. "But she puts it together and makes it into something beautiful."
Matthews said drawer sides, many of which are oak, turned out to be a real find as they were "great for painting on."
Matthews painted this recycled tackle box found in the theater and also displays some new items she created, such as this Victorian birdhouse.
Photo by Valerie Rowell
Her creations are displayed at community events and are for sale. When the opportunity arises, Blalock hopes to obtain a downtown storefront where Matthews can create and sell her wares.
Matthews has already pondered names such as Redeemed Treasures.
She has now expanded her hunting grounds to include a city trash pile across New Street from her temporary workshop.
"I love doing this stuff," Matthews said. "It is an outlet for me. It is a blessing for me."
Anyone interested in items for sale can call Matthews at 556-6427.