# Event Details - **Event Name**: From Refuse to Resource: Fiber Art presentation by Erik Jon Olson - **Event Start and End Date**: Fri, 30 Jan, 2026 at 02:00 pm – Fri, 30 Jan, 2026 at 05:00 pm - **Event Description**: In celebration of Fiber Arts February, artist Erik Jon Olson will give a presentation on his artistry and process. This will be followed by a reception and the opening of his exhibit in the Helen Wilson Gallery. Erik Jon Olson merges environmental advocacy with contemporary art. His work challenges viewers to reconsider not only their relationship to plastic, but also the legacy of consumerism, mass consumption, and unfettered capitalism. Layering environmental concerns with social justice messaging, Olson's art underscores humanity’s alienation from nature and each other, exposing our wastefulness and our subsequent need for healing. Olson’s entire process follows an ethos of minimal waste. Using secondhand sewing machines, each piece is assembled entirely from discarded plastics and overstock or leftover thread. He even saves every bit of scrap for incorporation into future works, reinforcing the message of sustainability in the art itself. Without denying what it is, he elevates a material deemed worthless into striking visual statements that harken back to Marshall McLuhan 's famous quote, "The medium IS the message." Erik Jon Olson grew up on a hog farm in northwest Iowa, where he discovered his talent for resourceful creativity. With a degree in advertising design from Iowa State University, he embarked on a 25-year career as a creative in the advertising industry in Minneapolis. Alongside his professional work, he explored various mixed-media approaches to artistic expression. After retiring, Olson lent his expertise to a friend’s business that repurposed single-use plastic waste into functional items. He embraced a challenge to utilize his design skills to create art from the discarded remnants of the manufacturing process. Using quilted plastic waste as his medium, he demonstrated its viability, exhibiting extensively across the country, earning recognition through numerous awards, podcasts, interviews and articles. Olson currently resides in Plymouth, Minnesota, where he operates from his home studio. There, he crafts large-scale artworks that merge his creative abilities with his commitment to sustainability, all through the transformation of plastic waste. Visit Erik Jon Olson's website for more information, a full catalog and exhibit schedule. Email: erik@erikjonolson.com Facebook handle: erikjon.olson Instagram handle: erikjonolson - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/washington/from-refuse-to-resource-fiber-art-presentation-by-erik-jon-olson/200029390674019 - **Event Categories**: art, contests, fine-arts - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 4 ## Ticket Details ## Event venue details - **city**: Washington - **state**: IA - **country**: United States - **location**: 115 W Washington St, Washington, IA, United States, Iowa 52353 - **lat**: 41.29811 - **long**: -91.69235 - **full address**: 115 W Washington St, Washington, IA, United States, Iowa 52353 ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: From Refuse to Resource: Fiber Art presentation by Erik Jon Olson - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/1d98e55c06f863726afab2ec838c1b5731dc10f8e009a3bcf2d9908ffbb9c179-rimg-w1200-h1537-dcfefefe-gmir?v=1767966339 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is From Refuse to Resource: Fiber Art presentation by Erik Jon Olson being held? - **A:** From Refuse to Resource: Fiber Art presentation by Erik Jon Olson takes place on Fri, 30 Jan, 2026 at 02:00 pm to Fri, 30 Jan, 2026 at 05:00 pm at 115 W Washington St, Washington, IA, United States, Iowa 52353. - **Q**: Who is organizing From Refuse to Resource: Fiber Art presentation by Erik Jon Olson ? - **A:** From Refuse to Resource: Fiber Art presentation by Erik Jon Olson is organized by Washington Public Library. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** From Refuse to Resource: Fiber Art presentation by Erik Jon Olson is ideal for art lovers, collectors, creatives, and anyone inspired by visual arts, installations, and exhibitions. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Washington, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If From Refuse to Resource: Fiber Art presentation by Erik Jon Olson sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "From Refuse to Resource: Fiber Art presentation by Erik Jon Olson", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/1d98e55c06f863726afab2ec838c1b5731dc10f8e009a3bcf2d9908ffbb9c179-rimg-w1200-h1537-dcfefefe-gmir?v=1767966339", "startDate": "2026-01-30", "endDate": "2026-01-30", "url": "https://allevents.in/washington/from-refuse-to-resource-fiber-art-presentation-by-erik-jon-olson/200029390674019", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "115 W Washington St, Washington, IA, United States, Iowa 52353", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "115 W Washington St, Washington, IA 52353-2035, United States", "addressLocality": "Washington", "addressRegion": "IA", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "41.29811", "longitude": "-91.69235" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "In celebration of Fiber Arts February, artist Erik Jon Olson will give a presentation on his artistry and process. 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