Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
RUNDE, Thomas
Runde, Thomas. (Dubuque, IA, Apr. 26, 1943-- ) Runde is considered one of the first "environmental artists" in the Midwest. Boasting that everything he builds was made from something headed for the landfill, he has crafted clocks, furniture and picture frames. Among his prized creations was a 250-pound chandelier six feet in diameter made of smoothed floorboards and a giant wagon wheel, glass from an old jail's window, mirrors and scrap carpeting to match the carpet in the home of the people for whom it had been purchased. In his store, Heritage Old Wood Arts, in Galena, Runde displayed a 1,000 pound grandfather clock with a wagon wheel face and hands made from old fruit boxes. Moldings came from local taverns and houses in Dubuque and Platteville, Wisconsin. The clock was displayed at the Chicago Merchandise Mart.
Each item sold contained a sealed time capsule. Within the capsule was the date the item was completed, a brief history of the materials used, and a statement of his philosophy of recycling.
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Sources:
Bahnks, Jean. "Junk is Beautiful to Galena Craftsman." Freeport (IL) Journal Standard, May 19, 1979
Chiaverina, Irma. " 'Waste Not' is Motto of Recycler." Telegraph Herald, 1977
Davies, Joel. "One Man's Junk Might be Used to Make This Man's Treasurers." Telegraph Herald, 1979