glean 2025/6

GLEAN is a juried program that gives five selected artists from the Portland area (Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties) access to the Metro Central transfer station (“the dump”) to glean materials to use to create art.

Residents and businesses in the Portland area generate more than 2 million tons of waste every year. While we can be proud that we recycle and compost a significant amount, there is an opportunity to do better. GLEAN taps into the creativity of artists to inspire people to think about their consumption habits, the waste they generate, and the resources they throw away.

GLEAN is a partnership between Recology, an employee-owned integrated resource recovery and recycling company; Metro, the regional government that manages the Portland area’s garbage and recycling system; and ReClaim It, an environmental arts non-profit.

PROGRAM ELEMENTS

Five artists will have the opportunity to glean materials from the Metro Central transfer station for the five months of the program's duration. Each artist will be required to create a minimum of eight pieces available for sale at the exhibition. Ninety-five percent of each piece must be made from materials gleaned from the transfer station. Each artist will be paid a $3,000 stipend upon successfully completing the program. Each artist will receive 80% commission from the sale of their art at the exhibition. Recology will retain one piece from each artist for its permanent collection; Metro will retain one piece from each artist to be publicly displayed for two years. Please note that these pieces are not purchased.Artists are required to sign an artist agreement and attend a safety training before gleaning. Artists must be available for monthly check-ins. Studio space is not provided.

2025/6 IMPORTANT PROGRAM DATES

• Monday, December 1, 2025: On-Site Safety Training and Orientation (required)
• December 2025 – April 2026: Gleaning Residency Dates
• May 2026: Exhibition