Reinvention Garage by Chris Combs

^{A broken guitar amp turned into an internet radio/Bluetooth speaker}

In Reinvention Garage, meet artist Chris Combs and his showcase of once-obsolete household electronics from Arlington that have been reimagined as newly useful devices. Learn how beginner-friendly STEAM electronics can reduce our waste stream: we can reinvent our old televisions, tablets, and household gadgets into magic mirrors, internet radios, and nightlights—keeping them useful for years to come.

While visiting, you can meet the artist and get an artist-designed Risograph flyer(PDF, 4MB) with inspiration for reimagining your own E-waste. You can also trade in or donate unneeded cords, like HDMI or USB cables, with our free cord exchange.

Our community partner is The Shop, a Maker Space located in Central Library.
The Shop is where people and ideas connect. Did you know that they have 3D printers, a 3D scanner, a laser cutter and more? All free. Open Lab is a great time to work on personal or collaborative projects, get feedback or try something new. Meet Chris Combs at The Shop on specially programmed days.  (See below.)

Some of Reinvention Garage's materials came from the personal collection of Alberto Gaitán, a multi-disciplinary artist whose works utilized robots, sensors, and networks. Living and working in Arlington, his numerous solo projects included the LOCI 1.0 installation on Lorcom Lane in 1998, as well as collaborative projects including Dominion Dům in 1994 with Art Attack International.

SEE: Real household electronic devices from Arlington, once destined for the landfill or E-waste, reinvented as new useful everyday tools.
TAKE: A free, Risograph-printed flyer created by the artist that includes inspiration and sources for fun projects that reinvent unloved appliances.
TRADE: Donate or trade good electronic cords. Any excess cables will be responsibly recycled.
MEET: Artist Chris Combs, graduate of the Corcoran College of Art + Design
LEARN: How simple changes in electronics can make an obsolete object useful again and about our community partner, The Shop.

Summer 2023

Thursday, June 1 – 3-7pm – Ballston Mega Market, 901 N. Taylor Street, Ballston Metro
Saturday, June 10 – 8-noon –Lubber Run Farmers Market,  4401 N. Henderson Road, Ballston Metro
Saturday, June 17 – 3-7pm –Columbia Pike Blues Festival, Walter Reed Drive at Columbia Pike
Wednesday, June 28 – 3-7pm—Rosslyn Farmers Market, Central Place Plaza, Rosslyn Metro
Sunday, July 9 — 9-1pm – Fairlington Farmers Market, 3308 S. Stafford Street
Saturday, July 15 – 8-noon—Cherrydale Farmers Market, Dorothy Hamm Middle School, 4100 Vacation Lane
Thursday, July 20– 3-7pm – Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Virginia Square Metro, Art Cycle:  Bring art supplies to trade with The Shop's swap in the auditorium, check out the Arlington Art Truck outside on the Garden Plaza (entrance to the library near the parking lot and tennis courts) and also jump on an Public Art Bike tour.  Angela Adams, Director of Public Art and Tomora Wright, Public Art Project Manager, will guide you on this tour organized by BikeArlington.   The bike tour will start and end at the Arlington Art Truck.
Saturday, July 22– 8-noon –Arlington Farmers Market, N. Uhle & 14th Street N., Courthouse Metro

Open Lab at The Shop with Chris Combs

Thursdays: June 22, July 27 and August 3 – 4:30-7:30pm, Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street

As a special collaboration with The Shop, consult directly with Chris Combs during Open Lab.  Brainstorm with Chris how to reinvent your E-waste as newly useful household objects. Find out how you can build projects like those in “Reinvention Garage,” reimagining E-waste: turn a blender into a nightlight, an old TV into a magic mirror, and more.

Participation in Open Lab requires an active Library card, and a completed Maker User Agreement.

Visit the Reinvention Garage website designed by Chris

Learn more about the artist