'Invisible sisters' teach recycling

MANILA, Philippines – They call themselves Invisible Sisters, but among the marginalized urban women that they have been working with, they’re anything but invisible, and the marks of their influence and effort are visibly beautiful.

Visual artist and environmentalist Ann Wizer and her Invisible Sisters, now numbering 150, have been teaching women to create art and fashion from trash. Armed with nothing more than crochet hooks, they transform waste products like computer wires, hard drives, motherboards, cassette and video tapes into fashion accessories like bags, purses and other useful items. Invisible Sisters aims to help reduce waste, raise environmental consciousness, reduce poverty, and develop superior designs that will allow their products to compete in a saturated marketplace.

The emphasis on design superiority is key to the success of Invisible Sisters, and Wizer’s presence in the group is a crucial element.

Wizer, whose most recent exhibit was “Extra ORDINARY” held at the Lopez Museum as part of its anniversary exhibit last February, calls her project “simple problem solving:” connecting the dots requiring skills and imagination resulting in new possibilities to create something from nothing.”

She continues: “As an artist, I examine all kinds of materials for their properties, resilience, inner stories. In doing so, I have chosen to work with debris. If you listen, trash speaks of our values; each object and substance speaks of its origin. We need to listen, as our landfills, which have exceeded their capacities thousands of times over, have become virtual cities unto themselves.”

To celebrate World Environment Day (June 5), Wizer will hold a one-day workshop on how to convert trash into useful art on Friday, June 4, starting at 10 a.m. at the Lopez Museum (Benpres Bldg., Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City).

In addition to the workshop, products made by Wizer and the Invisible Sisters will be sold as part of the 2010 Earth Day Recyclable Collection event at the parking lot of Benpres Building on June 4. The one-day event will have eco-products for sale, an Earth Day logo-making contest and trash-for-cash recycling event. 

Slots are limited for the workshop, so pre-registration is required. Individuals interested to join may call Fanny or Jane at 631-2417. Learn to turn trash into art and be visible for the environment!