By Andrea Mikenas

Cheese plates made from wine bottles.  Bowls made from cement bags.  Jewelry made from junk-drawer odds and ends.

Repurposing, always a passion among gallery owners in Oak Park’s eco-friendly arts district, is becoming a lifeline there, too. To hang on during a recession, reusing and recycling found objects - and working with like-minded artists - makes real-world sense for business owners who realize their goods are household extras, not basics. This weekend, that survival spirit is at the heart of the district’s annual Art on Harrison fall festival: “Oak Park Trash - The Art of Being Green.”

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