If you’re like me, you may have recently found yourself doing a couple of strange things: one in private, the other in public. In private: you raided your closet (or your attic or basement), the place where you store all your old treasures, you found the nondescript, but heavy box, and there, after dusting off the top, you uncovered your (in)famous collection of old 12 inch LPs. Yes, LPs, long-playing phonograph records; vinyl that is, black gold! In public: you found yourself doing something rather similar. You visited a family run music store (yes, some still do exist), and browsed the aisles, as fewer and fewer people seem to do nowadays. And, there, close to the path lined with jewel-boxed CDs, ear-buds, DVD collections and Play Station games, you found them – rows and rows of LPs in their colorful art encrusted sleeves.

So, what brought me to this point? Well, I think a confluence of events. First, my teenage daughter craving “authentic” music, exploring the pre-historic caves of the pre-iPod, pre-MP3, pre-CD music scene. How refreshing it is to have the younger generation re-discovering “our” music. Second, my desire to reminisce over the grand old days of classic rock, classic disco, classic soul, classic… well, just classic music. Also, my desire to revisit the beautiful art and the rich words that once enveloped the dark vinyl of 33s, like a treasured wrapper around your favorite bar of chocolate. Sadly, the instant gratification delivered by the iPod, and to some extent the CD, crushed the art that one graced the covers of this music.

And, now I find that artists, including our very own Nix Johnson, are making art, and wearable art at that, from these very same LPs. Nix’s bracelets and cuffs are made from reclaimed and recycled vinyl records. So, while I’m not quite ready to see my classic Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Motown LPs turned to accessories, I certainly like Nix’s creative and eco-friendly mission. Come take a spin at art251 to see more of Nix Johnson’s colorful vinyl creations.