Check Out The Hodgepodgery

You hear the word "green" everywhere these days. Of course it means being responsible by recycling and not using products that harm the Earth. Even though I'm conscious about being green, I never would have guessed that there could be such an art form to recycling. Dori and I made a midday trip to The Hodegepodgery in Midtown Harrisburg late last week, and it was amazing to see how area artists have put their own unique twists on recycling.

There is something at The Hodgepodgery for everyone. Clothing, jewelry, desk accessories, soaps, pet items, cards; the list keeps going and going. There are always new items, and best of all, no two items are the same. That’s a credit to the artists and an amazing demonstration of what can be created using a palette of recycled and repurposed items.

Not only are the items original, The Hodgepodgery is a pure display of all of the artistic talent right here in Central PA. The jewelry was incredible. You couldn’t help but admire the textile work, and with every item handmade, you wondered how the artists thought to use the materials that they did. There are wall collages composed from used food packaging that from afar look like skillful pieces of painted modern art. Rings and jewelry made from silverware that would enhance any outfit, unique purses that no one else has seen and truly vintage pieces of clothing that can’t be bought off a department store’s racks.

I definitely recommend stopping in and taking a look around. Even if you don’t purchase anything, it is definitely inspiring and may trigger your creative repurposing/recycling genius.

—Madeline