What you find in the Richmond city limits is somewhat unexpected. Some of the relics that I’ve come across resonate with the peri-urban narratives of indigenous creatures that I never saw in other cities. These relics-turned-art materials include skeletal fragments of animals, dehydrated remains of a bat, and remnants reflecting the defeated flights of baby birds. These remains found on train tracks and sidewalks reflect failures and battles quietly occurring around us every day. ~Sayaka Suzuki, glass artist, Richmond, VA

My materials usually creep into my repertoire after many visits to the silly and inspiring trim shops off Seventh Avenue in New York. Hunting, gathering, and migrating to my sources and the use of industrial man-made materials is where I find inspiration. Vinyl-coated recycled polyester, industrial-dyed chicken feathers, plastic palettes, fique, retro-reflective tape, and phosphorescent and holographic tape are woven, collaged, and manipulated into a kind of disco environment in my textiles. ~Michael Radyk, textile artist, Kutztown, PA

When I was in college I had my dad (who lives in northern Wisconsin) place an ad in the local newspaper asking for unwanted taxidermy of any kind. It yielded the best results: I got an antelope, a coyote pelt, an armadillo, a duck, a pheasant, and a fish. It was so surprising to see the items people didn’t want anymore, and it really allowed me to be creative in new ways. Since I decorate the taxidermy with sequins, paint, etc., I was really excited by the different shapes of the animals. ~Cassandra Smith, sculptor, Milwaukee

The one scenario that sticks out is my search for vintage linoleum. For the 1930s hairstyle in my piece A Century of Hair, 1900-1990, I desperately wanted to use real 1930s-era linoleum. After exhausting all resources, I put the word out that I was looking for old linoleum. A call from a friend led me to finally unearth exactly what I wanted, under 10 layers of flooring in an old building. It was a victorious moment! ~Anne Lemanski, visual artist, Spruce Pine, NC

I create jewelry from objects I save from an untimely demise in landfills. Recently I discovered a paper company (the Lost Coast Culture Machine) that makes paper from unwanted thrift store clothes, and my mind filled with design ideas. Together we produced a strong, durable paper to create jewelry with. It was a fun experience, and I learned some astonishing facts about the fashion industry and how textiles are one of the largest producers of CO2 emissions. ~Lexi Daly, jewelry artist, Sebastopol, CA