Ron Yeo

The “Master re-cycler”.….Reusing items has always been a way of life for Yeo. Born during the Great Depression and raised during World War II, his family’s motto at home while he was growing up was “waste not, want not” and it has carried over into his adult life. He is well known for his many designs of Nature and Interpretive Centers such as the earth sheltered “Muth Center”, the “Back Bay Science Center” as well as the “Lane Educational Center” in Redwood City. He began saving left over items from his architectural projects, like ceramic tile and re-using them in the next building. “There are always leftovers, I hate to see anything thrown away, it’s got to have another life somehow.” After 56 years of practicing architecture in Corona del Mar, California, Yeo converted his office at 500 Jasmine Ave into an ART studio. In front, wall art of designs made from bottle caps and other found objects. In back, thousands of bottle caps & collected beach toys organized by color and style. “I’m a collector”, Yeo said. Over the past few years, Ron has contributed to many exhibits. Solo exhibits include: Sherman Library & Gardens “jungle junk critters” Newport Beach Central Library “Bottle Cap Art” - “Reuse – Recreate – Reimagine” Scott LaFleur, the Director of Sherman Gardens. Said: “Yeo has a unique skill of turning something that was destined for the landfill or would have been washed out to sea into something that brings joy and astonishment, His ability to re-imagine their purpose deserves recognition”, LaFleur added. “And Yeo gets pretty creative in how he reuses what he finds”People call repurposed art a number of things — urban art, found art, trash art — but Yeo calls his “FUN ART.” The best way to judge his talent is to tour his art studio. Check out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frXPi4kNaYc

I have spent the last 63 years as an architect trying to improve our environment, either by fighting Urban Ugliness or helping preserving more Open Space. I have been designing Nature & Interpretive Centers that help build awareness, understanding and appreciation of nature. I decided 3 or 4 years ago to engage in waste with ART as a form for creative problem solving & building awareness. I can find the beauty in everything that I see. There can be wonderful inspiration in our trash discards. When we incorporate discards into our lives with ART, we could have more inspiring elements and fewer landfills and cleaner oceans. I take mundane objects that I pick up along the beach or that friends give me of their worn-out items and create ART. Everything from bottle caps, beach toys, window blinds, hand vacs, mops & plastic soap jugs. And I have FUN using them to create fun & whimsical ART by re-purposing these every day abandoned items.

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