About

What Is Cracked Pots?

Rooted in Portland, Oregon, Cracked Pots sprouted in 1998 from the fertile minds of garden designer Tess Beistel and artist Mary Lou Abeln. Many more cracked pots have since joined this nonprofit organization to help build stronger communities through grassroots, sustainable art projects.

Cracked Pots is deeply committed to reducing waste by reclaiming items that would otherwise end up in landfills. At our Garden Art Show each summer and at other events we exhibit the work of many Northwest artists who make provocative art from reused, recycled and reimagined materials.

Finding the good in garbage

We may be a bunch of crazy, mixed-up cracked pots, but we have a mission: Cracked Pots uses art to encourage our community to creatively look at trash. Reuse is at the heart of all we do. Think before you throw.

We achieve this by:

• Conducting events to inspire and educate the public to creatively use reclaimed material.
• Salvaging materials destined for local landfills and transforming them into decorative and functional art.
• Building connections between the public and groups committed to environmental, educational, artistic and gardening issues.

This is not your garden-variety group of volunteers. Contact us to join in!