How Artist Masumi Yoneyama is Spreading Joy Through Upcycled Artworks

This holiday season, we’re highlighting stories of community members finding ways to spread joy and love to others — and in this case, to the planet. Masumi Yoneyama of My Phoenix Rising CO, is a Broomfield-based artist whose work repurposes used bicycle parts.

Yoneyama says her consciousness about reusing materials rather than creating waste began with her grandmother in Japan.  ”I just try to make pretty things out of things that were overlooked or about to be thrown away,” says Yoneyama. “It’s always been important to me to try to kind of uphold my grandmother’s tradition [by] finding a use for something that seems like has lost their usefulness.”

Yoneyama’s art can be seen at the upcoming Art Parts Green Gifts Sale, and her work is also displayed in Broomfield City Hall.

This story is part of a series on the Morning Magazine about community members spreading joy during the holidays. The Morning Magazine is KGNU’s weekday morning show featuring in-depth discussions on local news issues. Click here to listen to other episodes of the Morning Magazine.