Staff Spotlight: Ben Sorrell
Each month we highlight one of the incredible staff members that makes the magic happen at Austin Creative Reuse. This month, it’s Processing Reuse Specialist, Ben Sorrell (he/him). Ben joined ACR last summer, and before he did, he would drive up from Corpus Christi just to participate in our markets! He is constantly teaching others about printmaking and hand-mending and quilting techniques, and his calming demeanor is always so helpful when processing gets hectic. Say hi to him the next time you drop off a donation!
How did you find Austin Creative Reuse?
I honestly can’t remember, but I remember very early on (before I lived in Austin) that a friend in the printmaking community was excited about getting supplies here, and so I went with them after Print Austin one year. We loved the mission of the organization and started making it a point to come here when we were in Austin for art shows.
What’s your favorite part about working at ACR?
My coworkers. We have some amazingly kind and creative people here.
Are you an artist, crafter, or maker? What mediums do you work with?
I’m an artist who works particularly in printmaking, as well as quilting, mending, embroidery and natural dyes. ACR has been the biggest resource for secondhand and vintage fabrics to work with in my art/craft practices since I started working here.
What do you do when you’re not working at ACR?
When not at ACR, I’ll usually be at Slugfest print shop, or at home with something to sew. I get restless when I'm not working on something. Otherwise, it’s just enjoying the music around here, friends, or getting out of town for the hill country itself.
What’s the craziest thing you found in donation mountain?
With our donations, what’s stuck with me more than the strangeness of some of the materials is how we get these occasional waves of incredibly valuable stuff. Like how we’ll have very normal, gently or moderately used art supplies and then get, say, a thousand-plus dollars (retail price) of vintage pastels, nearly an actual ton of quilting fabrics, or power tools in great working condition.
About Ben:
Born and raised in Corpus Christi, Ben grew up by the ocean and developed a love for the water, and the plants and animals living in and around it. As an artist, Ben's focus is on printmaking, quilting and mending- using secondhand materials to customize and repair everything he can.
Social media: @printsandmends on Instagram
