The collaborative artistic research "Arts of Upcycling” (2024-2027) initiated by artists James Jack and Taro Furukata, returns reciprocity to the center focusing on integrating alternative economies with contemporary artistic ecosystems, asking the question, "How can we decentralize power towards informal sharing economies?" We are co-creating artworks with sailcloth, hand embroidery, and natural dyes while gathering interviews with upcyclers in Shodoshima, Singapore, Hiroshima and next Germany.

Our practice of upcycling as a creative and practical model seeks to diversify existing systems with expanded imagination working with objects from the past to paint colorful futures with friends in Art as Ecological Practice.

During the Spring Assembly resident artist Meika Mizuno engaged creatively with local plants, ecosystems and fibers.
During the Fall Assembly Tokyo-based artist Myu Hanaoka presented her on-site research with found material (soil, and leftover food) for natural dying.