When I heard [a family] had an industrialsize chicken coop that they wanted dismantled, I knew I had a real find," says folk artist Matt Cross. Recognizing that he needed a dedicated workshop and studio, he saw the chicken coop as the perfect candidate.

"Still," he says, "although the materials were ideal, the construction design did not work well. So, I reengineered the materials into a building that blends with existing agri-structures and, at the same time, opens the space to light, a work, and storage. The exterior walls and roof are built from the salvaged coop materials, and I used salvaged residential windows to create light and salvaged masonry materials for the flooring."

From handmade birdhouses to a chicken coop studio, Cross' work is a reflection of his commitment to making a difference, a greening statement. All of his creations are made from found or recycled objects and material, which together with their handpainted finish add whimsy and make each piece truly one of a kind.

Cross' art, frequently referred to as self-taught or outsider art, includes paintings and sculptures as well as carvings that creatively represent a sense of environmental stewardship.

"One example," he says, "of practicing stewardship is to avoid loss of energy. So, when I recycle wood, I take the useable portion and construct a project. Then, I use the sawdust to smoke pottery projects. Finally, I use the remaining to burn in the pot-belly stove that heats my studio."

Not too long ago, folk art was segregated from mainstream art. Nowadays, it's considered one of the more important visual art cultures America has produced. In Central Virginia, Matt Cross is recognized as an artist who creates treasures from another man's trash. His work is available in galleries and shops in Virginia, North Carolina, and Vermont.

FOLK ART, IN GENERAL, is produced by untrained people who draw on their cultural experiences and a true, untutored, creative passion. To learn more about this artform, contact the Folk Art Society of America, P.O. Box 17041, Richmond, Va. 23226, or visit folkart.org. To learn more about Matt Cross' art, visit mattcrossartist.com.

See Matt Cross and his designs at the Virginia Garden Festival on Sept. 22 at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden. For details visit virginiagardening.com.