Thinking about tossing out grandpa’s old typewriter? Not sure what to do with an antique camera that’s taking up space in your garage? Concerned what your friends think about the dilapidated piano in your living room? Before giving those items the boot, check out artist Zach McDonald’s new retail space at Warehouse Row.
Part of an endeavor McDonald has dubbed 86 Things, the store reveals the magic that can happen when old, discarded objects meet ingenuity and skill. McDonald graduated from Southern Adventist University in 2008 with a degree in painting and drawing. He hasn’t done much of either since then, however. Instead, he’s focused on graphics and interior design work. Through the newly launched 86 Things, McDonald hopes to bring a unique product to Chattanooga and establish an outlet for his creativity. McDonald sat down with the Hamilton County Herald to discuss the mission of 86 Things and how his venture fits into the scheme of things in Chattanooga. What’s the story behind 86 Things?
There haven’t been many people doing repurposed stuff. It’s a good idea, and people talk about it, but no one’s been doing it. So I wanted to have a place where I could showcase my artwork and do repurposed stuff. A lot of artists want to work full time but end up going a different route. You’ve been on your own since day one.
If you’re a creative person, it’s easy to get burned out working for someone else. It’s even hard to do freelance work because you’re designing other people’s ideas all day. Creativity is my strongest suit, so I was more exited about being able to come up with new concepts. I’ve started a program in which I mentor young artists in this area. I want to help people understand that art is a viable career as long as you’re motivated to make things happen and you’re willing to diversify. I graduated with a painting and drawing degree, but I haven’t sold many paintings or drawings lately. However, the other aspects of my creativity have allowed me to continue doing those things for myself. When you order food at a restaurant, you might tell them to “86 the mustard,” so does the name for your business come from the slang for throwing something away? A lot of people have been curious about the name, and I like the ambiguity.
I like people wondering what it means. It’s simply about bringing back the things we throw away. That explains the “86,” but what about the “things?” I don’t want the name of my business to sound prestigious, and “things” sounds down to earth. Art should be accessible. One of the things I’m trying to do at 86 Things is have different price points so everything isn’t either outrageously expensive or so dirt-cheap, it’s not worth having in your home. So, I create a variety of things. Basically, 86 Things is a space for me to showcase my ideas. I want to sell things, but I also want people can see what I can do. I want to work with what people have instead of asking them to spend thousands of dollars on new stuff. I want to help people see it’s more affordable to redo the stuff they have, to pull out something out of storage and paint it, or change it in some way. There are two vibes in Chattanooga. One is the green initiative.
Does 86 Things fall in line with attempts to reduce one’s impact on the environment? Repurposing is even more responsible than recycling. So 86 Things falls in line with the local green initiative by encouraging people to use found objects and things people have discarded. The other local vibe has to do with Chattanooga’s robust artistic community and the city’s support of artists. Your thoughts? Points of distribution for artists who are trying to make a career out of what they do are still low, so it’s been hard for me to figure out how to break into the local art scene. Chattanooga harbors art more as a hobby than as a viable career, but I believe the city wants to change that. Being the size we are, we’re supporting the arts the best we can, but artists need more places where they can sell stuff at affordable price points.
That said, Chattanooga is a great incubator for artists. That’s one of the reasons I’m still here. There are a lot of people who want new and exciting things to happen.
When you say “things,” are you literally talking about anything? I want the sky to be the limit. If something can be repurposed, it should be. So, I’ve been doing lamps, tables and candlesticks, and bringing in other stuff to see what I can do with it.
Provide an example of your work. People are moving away from plain wood in their homes, and painted furniture is getting big. So, your old cherry armoire might not be in style anymore, but it would work if you painted it white and then antiqued it.
What’s your dream piece? I want to repurpose an old piano. Maybe no one plays the piano in your house anymore. You have it, and it’s out of tune, but you don’t want to throw it away. So what can you do with it?
I like to think about things that way. I also like to think up things to put in bathrooms as shelves, chairs and towel racks. I like to look at what people have already done in their space and what they have to work with, and see what I can come up with. What are your plans? I’d like to do creative consulting with people in their houses. If someone has something he wants redone, but he doesn’t know what to do with it, I’d like to go to his home and see his space and his colors and where it’s going to be. For more on 86 Things, visit www.86things.com.