The little buttons I’ve accumulated for years with every intention of “doing something with them” have finally found a place where they’ll be used to fulfill someone’s purpose. With them jingling in my pocket, I walked past a colorful two-story mural to enter the haven for creativity in my own backyard.
Having a community aimed towards similar creative goals is a fantastic way to shuck the shackles of uncompleted tasks and crafty projects. But where are you going to find a group of people fixing to tend to the specific task of mending that one pair of joggers you split down the middle and can probably no longer legally wear in public?
Enter the vibrant community of ReCreative Denver. As “a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting creativity, community, and environmental stewardship through creative reuse & arts education,” ReCreative has formed a space in time where people of all walks can engage. The hands-on crafting of all types of media—sewing, pottery, painting, etc.—incorporates the value of upcycling to any project. “Well over 90% of our items have been donated by individual people,” remarks Director of Operations Chris Scott as we tour the expansive two-story facility where professional artists and common folk alike coalesce to bring ideas from theory to the physical world.
The sheer breadth of available tools, fabrics, raw materials, and classes conjures a sense of potential, limited only by the users’ own wants, a welcome respite from the rigid necessities endemic to the responsibilities of adult life these days.
“That sense of, ‘I’ve never been in a store like this before,’” is a sentiment Chris lends me and is assuredly echoed with every corner turned and staircase ascended. The community of Recreative has become a testament to its namesake as the shop has evolved through many iterations alongside the shifting wants of the community around them. A once-art gallery now holds space for mixed media classes, rows of fabrics for sale by the yard, and items heavily discounted from your typical retail establishment.
Arguably, the greatest takeaway from my walk through this creator’s playground is the sense of community and purpose that has allowed the space to become what it is. Between Emily overseeing “practically everything,” Mathew managing the woodshop, Tobi, Sammy, and Carol giving design and legibility to the space, and Kelly (a friendly face behind the register during my visit) running programming, it was clear that the team here doesn’t operate in the cliche twenty-first century “family” workplace. No consolation pizza parties in place of fulfillment here. Rather, an environment that encourages people to lean into their interests, catalyzing natural growth, is the aura of this location. With endless objects—typewriters, paintbrushes, stained glass—the options for projects to embark on are plenty. This stems from the donations of my generous and encumbered Denverites.
But there is a line. Sometimes, one person’s trash really is just that. So if you’re inspired to donate, bring in things within the guidelines stated on their website to contribute in a helpful way to the community! And for objects you might need for your own personal crafting projects, Chris affirms that you can find them here, albeit with some digging. I couldn’t agree more. That being said, if the thing you need is a place, like-minded people, and a whole ecosystem flowing towards you bringing a vision to life, look no further than the front doors.