M.E.C.C.A.: The Materials Exchange Center for Community Arts

Image Gallery

Printmaking & Silkscreen Workshops

2006/2007: Network Charter School Printmaking


MECCA's new printmaking equipment, acquired with a grant from the Meyer Memorial Trust, was put to good use by NCS students this year. Check out the gorgeous wood block prints by this spring's advanced studio class!

Art & the Vineyard 2007


MECCA and BRING Recycling teamed up in the Youth Art Arena at the 24th annual Art and the Vineyard Celebration. Kids & adults enjoyed a variety of fun recycled crafts, including paper-making, CD suncatchers, and junk jewelry.

Network Charter School Art Show, May 2007


Check out some of the great artwork being made in MECCA's Network Charter School classroom!

Earth Day Art & Writing Contest, 2007


Kids got a special place at this year's Earth Day Celebration with an Art & Writing Contest addressing the question: WHAT PART OF THE EARTH IS MOST SACRED TO YOU? In words or images, kids described what is most special to them -- whether it was a place on earth, an object, a system, or something else. Ideas for preserving this sacredness were also encouraged.

Cosponsored by BRING Recycling, the Earth Day Contest drew submissions from all over Lane County, including a song (in Spanish!) performed by Buena Vista Elementary's first graders!

Earth Day 2007


MECCA enjoyed its third year of making art at Eugene's
Earth Day Celebration. MECCA and BRING Recycling helped folks make junk jewelry, bumper stickers, poster, and instruments & costumes for the Procession of All Species - all from reclaimed, zero-waste materials, of course!

"PIELC 2007: New Visions for a Healthy Planet"


This exhibit was curated by MECCA board member Sterling Israel. Sterling, who is finished up her graduated degree in the Universit of Oregon's Arts & Administration program, has done a great deal of work exploring sustainable practices in community art. The focus of "New Visions" is on Reuse and Resourcefulness as a widespread trend in contemporary artwork.

2006 Less is Best Holiday Fair


We had great fun this year making cards, gift boxes, wrapping paper, and monotype prints! Recycled art for sale included bottle cap jewelry, lavendar-filled ornaments from starched fabric scraps, bowls made from chopsticks and paper pulp, papier mache masks, and recycled iron garden sculpture. Also check out the photographs of a pincushion ring made out of a plastic bottle cap!

Saturday Kid's Art Activities


Kids of all ages have fun at MECCA! For a list of upcoming activities, see the
Workshops page.

August 2006: Salmon Puppets


Volunteers aged 3 to 80 helped make 4 gigantic papier mache salmon puppets to march with the
McKenzie River Trust in the 2006 Eugene Celebration Parade!

2006 Festivals


Kids had and adults alike had fun making art out of trash at Eugene's Earth Day Celebration, Art and the Vineyard, and the Lane County Fair's Sustainable Sunday. Check out the giant mandala made out of bottle caps!

2005 Less is Best Holiday Fair


The first annual "Less is Best" Holiday Fair was a great success. Visitors learned how to make snowflakes out of six-pack rings, jewelry from bottle caps, and gift boxes out of old greeting cards. They learned about environmentally-friendly alternative Christmas trees and shopped for recycled gifts at BRING's craft booth. Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who staffed the event!

From MECCA's Network Charter School Classroom

Scrap Art Projects

Public Art


The Whiteaker Sculpture Project, Summer 2001
"For the People, Of the People, By the People"