A little bird told me the other day that Michael Smith, the LA decorator in charge of designing President Obama’s private quarters has tapped an unlikely supplier for his chandeliers. Lest we forget, Magpie – a socially conscious art collective – is here to remind us that not all things shiny and beautiful must be crystal and gold. To prove it, Michael Smith has included two of Magpie’s bespoke chandeliers made out of recycled materials in his design proposal for Obama’s personal space.

Named after the playful birds who are notorious for taking and building their nests out of shiny, reflective objects, the Magpies have applied this allure to the artwork and they – the human magpies – collect and assemble it in much the same way their feathered counterparts do. They pick it off the ground, sift through the recycled materials and trash, and ask for donations. Via aluminum cans, discarded buttons, bottle caps, pieces of twine, and whatever else that strikes their fancy, they create elaborate pieces of home decor from centerpieces to chandeliers.

Founded in 1998 by Craft Icon and Designer Scott B. Hart and Ashoka social entrepreneur Shane A. Petzer, Magpie’s home base in Barrydale, South Africa (just east of Cape Town) provides it a unique platform to not only recycle waste for beauty, but to recycle wealth for social good. Through the “Rooi Doppies Project”, a division of Magpie, they support social action programs that work to improve their local, post-apartheid community. Their work includes a soup kitchen, an after school arts and crafts program (complete with recycled materials), and initiatives in AIDS/HIV care, substance abuse prevention, and environmental awareness.

Obama has yet to give the final approval on Michael Smith’s design plans, but the word in the sky is: “cuck-cool!” Finally, the real birds have something to twitter about.

Contributor Profile: Ashley

Ashley is a friend of anyone who is fighting the good fight for social change. She currently resides in Bilbao, Spain where she is teaching English and researching the history of the Basque conflict. Personal blog
Twitter: @socialearth

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