Green Daily

Eco-footwear and clothing company Keen recently held a contest, Stand Up, Out for Sustainability to encourage people to enter their new ideas about what is possible through the use of recycling and reusing products. Entries came in all forms - written, photographed, assembled constructed - and are a great example of what a little creativity and a bit of elbow grease can do.

The contest is part of Keen's overarching project that features a full-length documentary by the same name. It stars regular people talking about "taking a stand for what they believe in." (watch it here).

There are videos featured on Keen's website about some of the artists, like artist/sculptor Matt Cartwright, who starts off by expressing an idea that a lot of people probably share, but are unwilling to admit: that when dumpster diving, he's sometimes paranoid or embarrassed that someone will catch him in the act. Entries had to fall into one of three categories: Stand Out, about re-imagining outdoor spaces, Stand Up, a more general category about recycling and reusing to create new products and ideas, and Stand For, about starting and joining environmental causes.
You can take in dozens of submissions on the site, where you might just get inspired to create your own reused work of art or start your own volunteer organization. One woman used her used coffee filters to make a wall quilt, and another woman spoke of her experience with Engineers Without Borders.

The Keen contest is a great example of a melding of art and function, and proves that creativity is key when it comes to changing your environment and coming up with new ways of doing things.