Michelle Paul was the top sculptor in the Maryland Department of Environment's “Rethink Recycling” sculpture contest. The piece is composed of recyclable materials.

Best Workmanship: Ashley Taylor created a sculpture from car antennas, scrap sheet metal, newspaper, wires, bolts, springs, aluminum cans and a car mirror adjuster button.

Carianne Bente won for best creativity.

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) celebrated America Recycles Day (ARD) by hosting the 3^rd annual “Rethink Recycling” sculpture contest and judging ceremony.  ARD is a national event that promotes recycling, source reduction, reuse, and the purchase of recycled content products.  The sculpture contest was held at MDE headquarters in Baltimore City on November 19, 2004. 

Forty-four high school students from across Maryland had the opportunity to create sculptures from reused and recycled materials for exhibition and judging.  The sculptures were made using aluminum cans, plastic bottles, CD’s, cardboard, car parts, electronic materials, wire and much more. The contest challenged students to innovatively and artistically use recycled materials as a method for waste reduction. 

Judges Kendl P. Philbrick/MDE Secretary, Steve Kullen/ARD National Program Manager, and Ana Hayes-Perez/Baltimore Public Works Museum Curator, had the task of determining the winners and honorable mentions in the contest.  Sculptures were judged on creativity, use of recycled materials, and workmanship. 

“This event is one of my favorites,” Secretary Philbrick said. “We get to foster youth’s ingenuity and spirit while encouraging an environmental ethic. After participating in a contest such as this, artists and art lovers will never look at discarded items or trash the same again.”

 The top sculptor was Michelle Paul, a student from Baltimore County's Carver Center for Arts and Technology.  Her winning sculpture was a replica of the NBC peacock made from electronic materials, monitor, light fixture, light bulbs and wires.  Ms. Paul received $500 for her winning sculpture.  Winners of workmanship, creativity, and best use of materials all won Sharp Audio Systems.  Best Workmanship was awarded to Ashley Taylor, a student from St. Mary’s County's Leonardtown High School.  Her winning sculpture was a 

porcupine made from scrap sheet metal, newspaper, wires, car antennas, bolts, springs, aluminum cans and a car mirror adjustor button.  Carianne Bente from Baltimore County’s Carver Center for Arts and Technology won for Best Creativity for a sculpture of a boot made from screws.  The Best Use of Materials award went to Stacy Mathis from Carroll County’s South Carroll High School with her abstract sculpture made from nineteen different discarded monochromatic blue objects.

Some of the sculptures are on public display at MDE’s headquarters in Baltimore. This year’s contest sponsors included Constellation Energy, the Maryland Soft Drink Association, Panasonic, Network Events Inc., the Maryland Recyclers Coalition, Sharp Electronics Corporation, Montgomery Park Business Park, and Gershman, Brickner & Bratton Inc.