I love words.  The rarely used, the aggressively used, the overused, catch words.  They are all fascinating.  The way words are put together can totally change how something is perceived.  For instance, I could say I am making things out of used blankets and sweaters.  I could say I am up-cycling natural fibers to create unique objects.  I could say I take old, holely, unwanted items made of wool and use them to create wall art and usable art.  I could say I am re-purposing woolen textiles to create new, low environmentally impacting, personal works of art.  All those statements describe what I am doing but which one captures interest in what I am doing?  Do any of those statements fall into ‘art speak’ (the act of using words to compensate for the art’s inability to speak for itself, or for the artist to make up for the fact that all they have really done is put a pile of Cheetos in the middle of a public space)?  Art speak is not my intention, but I am torn about the use of some of the catch words.

What is the difference between previously used, re-cycled, up-cycled, re-purposed, and re-commissioned?  What are the effects of each word on the perception of what is being described?  ‘Used’ definitely has negative associations.  Is there any difference to how re-cycled and up-cycled are perceived?  I guess the word ‘up’ puts a positive spin on things that ‘re-‘ might not.  Still there is an aura about ‘up-cycled’ that is reminiscent of ‘paradigm’, ‘green’, ‘organic’, ‘free range’ – frequently used, catchy to say, but not necessarily completely descriptive and occasionally deceptive.  How can words be put together to be honest and clear, but still grab the attention of an intended audience?  Simple without being commonplace, descriptive without being overbearing or pretentious.