In celebration of Earth Day, and in conjunction with "Waste: Artists Speak Out on our Disposable Culture" (on display in the Exhibition Gallery from March 7th to April 26th), the featured artists in the Craft Gallery for March and April will be potters Emily Reason and Lindsay Rogers and glassblower Ben Johnson. They are currently in residence at the EnergyXchange Renewable Energy Center in Burnsville, North Carolina, which is adjacent to the Yancey-Mitchell landfill.

The mission of EnergyXchange is to demonstrate the responsible use of landfill gas as an energy source for small enterprise in craft and horticulture, and to meet local energy needs. The site includes two craft studios where the ceramic kilns and glass furnaces are fueled by the landfill methane gas being generated by decomposing garbage in the nearby 6-acre landfill.

EnergyXchange offers residencies to potters and glassblowers for the opportunity to work in group studios on the site at a nominal cost. The clay kiln and glass furnaces are fired with landfill gas at no additional cost to the residents. Projected savings over the life of the project are estimated at over two million dollars.

Methane is considered a strong greenhouse gas. According to the EPA, in the year 2000, landfill-gas-to-energy projects (like EnergyXchange) prevented the release of 4.2 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. This is the equivalent of removing 2.8 millions cars from the road.

Visit the Craft Gallery to see the work and to learn more about EnergyXchange and how it is helping artists and the environment!