August 26, 2026, Petaluma, CA - What happens when items pulled from the recycling stream become works of art? The Mahoney Library Gallery at Santa Rosa Junior College’s Petaluma Campus will explore that question with an upcoming exhibit, "Beautiful Trash," featuring artwork created by students participating in the 2026 Recology Artstart Student Hub (TRASH) residency program.
Presented in partnership with Recology Sonoma Marin and Artstart, the exhibit will feature work by the six students selected for this summer’s residency. The participating students represent Petaluma High School, Sacramento State, Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma State University. Artwork by the Artstart program mentor and assistant will also be included.
The exhibit opens with a public reception on Thursday, Aug. 27 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and will remain on view through Dec. 11, 2026, during regular Mahoney Library hours.
During the residency, students visited Recology’s Materials Recovery Facility and selected “wishcycled” items - materials placed in recycling bins with the hope they can be recycled, but that ultimately cannot be processed through the recycling system. The students transformed these discarded materials into artwork designed to spark reflection and curiosity about waste, consumption, and what we choose to throw away.
The exhibit offers viewers an opportunity to see familiar objects in a new way while considering the environmental impact of everyday choices.
Alongside the artwork, the Mahoney Library Gallery will feature a book display focused on sustainability and related themes. SRJC students, employees, and community borrowers can check out the books.
The student artwork will also be exhibited at the Petaluma Arts Center from Sept. 17 through Oct. 24, 2026, with an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17.
About the Mahoney Library Gallery
Located on the first floor of the Herold Mahoney Library at SRJC’s Petaluma Campus, the Mahoney Library Gallery promotes student learning through fine art and course-related exhibits, lectures, and programming. The gallery presents work by local and international artists, SRJC students and faculty, and local community organizations. Exhibits also highlight library collections and explore the cultural, political, and social identity of Petaluma and the SRJC community.
Recent exhibits have included student and faculty artwork, creations from SRJC’s Fashion Studies program, Shepard Fairey: On the Wall, and SRJC Theatre Arts Costumes of Hollywood.
Art exhibits at SRJC libraries are funded by the Art in the SRJC Libraries Endowment through the Santa Rosa Junior College Foundation.
The Mahoney Library Gallery is located at Herold Mahoney Library, 680 Sonoma Mountain Parkway, Petaluma. Admission is free; visitors must purchase a $4 parking pass.
