Bartram Nason

Materials for the Arts

Creative Reuse for New York City's Artists

Materials for the Arts collects materials that would otherwise go to waste and provides those materials free of charge to elligible artists from its warehouse in Long Island City.

I spent a day in the warehouse photographing the activities of the organization's staff and the artists who shop there.

A warehouse with yellow bins on shelves, a woman pushing a shopping cart, and a rolling ladder in the center of the aisle.
People working at computers in an office with papers on the counter.
People with shopping carts in a warehouse-like setting, looking at various items, including rolls of material. Shelving and windows are visible in the background.
A woman with gray hair in a white shirt working in a workshop, surrounded by shelves and boxes.
Two people in an industrial setting. One person is pushing a blue shopping cart and looking to the left. Another person is walking through a large blue door marked with the number 3, wearing dark clothing and a hood. The area has textured metal walls and an elevator control panel.
Various art pieces related to recycling. There is a panel labeled "REUSE" with assorted materials such as buttons, fabric, and photographs. Another panel has a classroom paper recycling sign with instructions from the NYC Department of Sanitation, surrounded by paper and cardboard scraps.
A display featuring a sign with a red ribbon border that reads "WELCOME materials for the arts" with a stylized "M" composed of art tools. Above is a yellow sign with text: "STOP! Haven't been to Materials for the Arts in a while? Don't remember how to fill out the worksheet? WATCH the DVD before coming to check-in!" In the background, there are shelves with decorative items and an antique clock.
A person is reaching into a yellow plastic bin filled with envelopes and papers.
A person looking through a box of cards in a store or warehouse. Shelves with spools and boxes labeled "5000 POLAR Portion Cup Lids" are visible in the background.
A person writing on a clipboard in a room with people and grocery bags. The clipboard has a form labeled 'M' with various categories filled out. A shopping cart and several brown paper bags are in the background.
A fabric store with numerous rolls of fabric on shelves and in shopping carts. Several people are browsing through the materials.
Shelves filled with various paint cans organized by base type. Three sections are labeled "LIGHT BASE" and "MEDIUM BASE". A wooden ladder is leaning against the shelves.
A bulletin board with fabric samples, a sock puppet, and a sign that says "What can you do with a Single Sock? make a Sock Puppet or a Bean Bag."
A person standing in a storage area with stacked cardboard boxes. The boxes have labels and are secured with blue straps. A sign in the background reads "Do Not Touch Not Available."
Two people examining a roll of fabric in a warehouse filled with large rolls of textiles.
A woman at a desk with two computer monitors in a warehouse or office space interacting with a man in an orange sweater and scarf. Shelves filled with various boxes and items are visible in the background with people working.
A person reaching across a counter to hand over a clipboard with paperwork. A computer screen displays a list, and there are various office supplies, including a keyboard, tape dispenser, and papers with a 'DO NOT TOUCH' sign, on the desk. In the background, people and rolled fabrics are visible in a warehouse setting.
Two people loading long cardboard tubes and a wooden crate into the back of a red station wagon in a warehouse setting.