by Catherine Rierson
Staff Writer
Although the idiom “one person’s trash is another’s treasure†is probably more worn out than the rusty scrap metal Rita Spina and Tamera Mulanix collect for project ideas, it’s at the core of the two artists’ work.
Spina and Mulanix transform used metal they recover from scrapyards, woods and sides of rural roads into fine art, and the creative duo will present their exhibit of “Reborn Beauty†at Pittsboro’s Carolina Brewery in August and September. The Brewery will host a free brew-and -bar-snacks reception on Sunday, Sept. 14 from 4p.m. to 6p.m.
Descending from a line of welders, Mulanix studied welding and blacksmithing at Carolina Central Community College, while Spina found her inspiration a bit later in her former career as a psychologist.
Spina works with a combination of organic and man-made materials, a blend to symbolically reflect the changing times in often abstract mediums. She has been a member of the Chatham Open Studio Tour since its inception 16 years ago.
The Chatham Artists Guild is a nonprofit organization of regionally and nationally recognized visual artists. As part of its annual Chatham Open Studio Tour, guild members open their studios to visitors traveling with the tour throughout Chatham County for a meet-and-greet and an exchange of ideas on creativity and art.