Media alert – Otago Polytechnic
For immediate release, 28 April, 2017
Rekindling the creativity behind Occupational Therapy
Recycling, reusing, reducing, remodelling, and reselling! Juliet Arnott’s social enterprise ‘Rekindle’ is all about
diverting reusable resources from waste via creativity and craftsmanship.
Juliet will be honoured next week as one of Otago Polytechnic’s distinguished alumni. The awards take place on Friday
May 5.
She studied at Otago Polytechnic’s School of Occupational Therapy and went on to use her creativity and craftsmanship
with community groups, schools, health groups, artists and designers.
Rekindle originally focused on diverting timber from waste within residential demolition in Christchurch, turning it
into furniture, interiors, sculpture and jewellery.
One of Juliet’s more famous projects was Whole House Reuse, where her team deconstructed and transformed an entire earthquake damaged house into beautiful and purposeful artefacts.
More than 250 people from around New Zealand and the world were involved, creating everything from a delicately carved
taonga puoro to a finely crafted backyard studio.
Juliet will give a public talk on May 4 about Rekindle and how she actively pursues creative solutions to unmet social
and environmental needs.
ENDS