Take out your old, broken or mismatched jewelry, those buttons, patches or paint you no longer use and create something for the Cumberland County Public Library’s Recycled Art Contest.

“The sky is the limit, pretty much!” said Jennifer Carrico, who is in charge of the contest.

This is the fi rst time the Cumberland County Public Library has held a Recycled Art Contest and participants are encouraged to use items from around their own homes that may have otherwise been thrown away. One participant is making a quilt from recycled materials.

Participants are encouraged to keep the size of their artwork within an 18 by 24 inch perimeter, but if you want to make something larger, Carrico can work something out. If your artwork is supposed to hang or needs to be propped up by an easel Carrico will also assist you with that. Her phone number at the library is 910-864-3800, extension 235.

Contestants’ artwork will be on display from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, with judging and awards at 3 p.m. There will be staff members on duty during the display and signs will be up to ensure the artwork is not damaged.

The contest is split into five age groups and each will receive prizes for first place and honorable mention. The groups are divided into 8 years-old and younger, 9-12 years-old, 13-18 years-old, and 18-years-old and up. There will also be a “group” category where two or more members can enter the contest together. Entry forms along with artwork must be submitted to the Headquarters Library, at 300 Maiden Lane, during the hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 16. Artwork should be taken into the Pate Room of the library, which is immediately to the left of the front door. For an entry form visit the Web site at www.cumberland.lib.nc.us/PDF/RecycledArtShow.pdf .

Artists may include written pieces about their artwork, but it must be 150 words or less. Artwork will not be sold during the show and artists will be responsible for picking up their work by Monday, April 19. Any unclaimed work will be thrown away.

Guest judges will be brought in from the community, but no fi nal decisions on them have been made at this point.

Carrico cautions contestants to work with what they know how to use, read warning labels, and if unsure contestants can stop by the library for assistance.

“I love it and I’m very excited about it!” said Carrico.

This contest is centered around the Big Read, which features The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter was written in 1940, and is set in a small Georgia mill town during the Great Depression. The idea of recycling items for the art contest came from this book

.For more information go to the library Web site at www.cumberland.lib.nc.us .