While most Carson City residents tossed the plastic mail bags, Darla Leanne Bayer found a use for them. And she won first place in the creative division at the fifth annual Western Nevada Community College Recycled Art(icles) exhibit for her idea.
Bayer crocheted the bags together to make a rain poncho that would fit her seven-year-old daughter.
"I've always wanted to crochet something out of plastic bags," she said.
The exhibit, which will be on display until April 28, is designed to promote recycling and reusing for Earth Day which is Saturday.
Winners were announced at a reception Wednesday. The contest was judged by Mayor Ray Masayko and his wife, Diane.
Best of Show winner Art Herman, of Dayton, said he did not know the mayor was going to judge the contest but felt it was appropriate for his exhibit.
Herman said his project, "Bike Path," was inspired by the ongoing debate over whether or not to build a bike path at the base of the freeway.
"The bike path has been in the newspaper lately," he said. "Maybe it (the project) will make the mayor think about making a decision on the bike path."
Herman said he was happy to win the award.
"It feels great," he said. "I'm very happy to win Best of Show. It involves you a little bit in Earth Day.
He made the exhibit out of a bicycle sprocket, a toilet float, a gold ball, bailing wire and other materials.
Nola Pierce of Carson City attended the reception to look at the exhibits.
"I think it's a great concept," she said. "It lets people use what's available and be very creative with it."
She said her son is an artist and she can appreciate all the work that went into the different projects.
"Artists put so much of themselves into one piece," she said. "Not all people appreciate that. Being the mother of one, I do."
Other winners were:
-- Tamara Moyer, second place in the creative division.
-- Evan Johnson, third place in the creative division.
-- Noreen Humphreys, honorable mention in creative division.
-- Victoria Keeler, most useful.
-- Lisa Sheppard, second place in most useful division.
-- Ericka Owens and Lupe Avila, third place in most useful division.
-- J.D. Johnson, honorable mention in most useful division.
