Donated Gel Pens
This batch of pens were donated and sent in by Nick and Steph all the way from Queens NY. One thing I ask is that when you send pens in please include an email or find me on Facebook so I can properly thank you.
Any ways I got a bag full of regular pens and also two bags full of Beifa Gel Ink pens
Fish Pen send in by Mari finds final resting place inside Mercedes Pens
A fish pen from Santa Cruz that found its way to the Mercedes Pens Art Car two years later is a remarkable story. I met Mari during Art Car Fest in Santa Cruz two years ago who came by to see all the art cars on display down town. Her fish pen finally run out of ink and she sent it in the mail just the other day. I have another fish lure pen made from the same company on the inside of the car, I think another one would be nice for company. Thanks Mari and keep sending in those old pens pens, a million is just around the corner.
“I met you last year driving the Art Car show on Pacific Ave. in Santa Cruz. I wanted to send you this pen (not working) for your collection. Keep on Arting!”- Mari
Mercedes Pens Art Car during Art Car Fest in Santa Cruz CA
Good news, the Redwood Gospel Mission Thrift Store has just agreed to become a pen recycling drop off center for the one million pen drive. There will be a two bins, one located inside the thrift store and the other one in the back were donations are dropped off. So remember, don’t just throw away all those dead ball points, dry erase and marker pens, instead recycle them along with your other donations at the Mission Thrift Store on 1064 Piner Ave. in Santa Rosa, Mon – Sat, 10 am to 6 pm.
Alice Lowe who agreed to collect pens for the Million Pen Drive is the outreach and fundraising events and is also the contact person for the City Kids Festival that will happening Saturday August 22, 2009, at Juliard Park in Santa Rosa. The City Kids Festival is an all-day outreach, primarily to needy children in Sonoma County. There will be Free backpacks and school supplies! Free books! Balloon animals, miniature golf, snow cones, face painting and much more more! Many Sonoma County churches volunteer their time and effort and money to provide the supplies for the kids and run game and food booths during the event. In 2008 1800 backpacks were given away and this year they expect more that 2000 boys and girls to attend. The event is free and open to all with no charge for the games and food. The free backpacks are given to those children who pre-register for them at RGM.They are also currently accepting donations for more school supplies needed for the City Kids Festival.
I have had the pleasure of attending this event with my Mercedes Pens now for past couple of years and plan to be there again this year hanging out as the Pen Guy. This event would also be good time for you to come out with your kids and drop off any old pens that you would love to get rid off.
Brent Farris and Debbie Abrams wearing the Pen Guy’s Hat at KZST
Today I had the pleasure of being on air at KZST 100.1 with famous radio personalities Brent Farris and Debbie Abrams first thing this morning. I met Debbie at the Pick of the Litter Silent Auction event last June and after seeing the Mercedes Pens she asked me if I would like to be on the air. The answer of course was a big yes, and what time? I had the opportunity to share a little bit about my Mercedes Pens art car and my next big project to collect a million pens to make giant murals called “pen-tings”. Being on air was a lot of fun and if you missed it you will have another opportunity to hear my interview with Debbie on her Sunday morning show called “Sonoma County’s Talking”, 6am to 6:30am Sundays. Thanks Brent and Debbie for having me over this morning to spread the word about the Pen Guy and the next big pen collection project, it was a blast:)
PRESS RELEASE
PEN GUY TO COLLECT A MILLION USED PENS TO MAKE ART
The Pen Guy has a goal to collect a million used pens of all kinds, to create giant art murals called “Pen-tingsä.” He hopes to redirect the flow of some of the millions of used pens that end up in landfills every year into a reusable art medium.
Santa Rosa, CA – July 26, 2009
Every year millions of discarded, used pens end up in landfills. So far no one has come up with a possible eco-friendly solution to this problem until now. Costas Schuler, a.k.a. the “Pen Guy”, from Forestville, CA, is asking for used pen donations to create art- namely giant murals called “Pen-tingsä.” A few years ago Costas started gluing pens to his 1981 Mercedes Benz, creating an art car he dubs the “Mercedes Pens”, which now has approximately 10,000 pens on it and is a regular feature at community events around the Bay Area. Costas is now embarking on a more ambitious project to collect and reuse a million pens for his “Pen-tings”: The plan is to partner with individuals, businesses, organizations and schools to establish regular collection sites, or to help by hosting a donation drive, where Costas would appear with the Mercedes Pens to talk about the project. Contact Costas at [email protected] or join his Facebook group RecyclePens.
The Pen Guy and the Mercedes Pens are regular attendees of events such as the Maker Faire, Art Car Fest, Harmony Festival, City Kids Festival, as well as local grade schools and senior centers, where he encourages people to pursue their talents and dreams in life. He goes about his normal day asking for used pen donations, and there are several schools and businesses which participate regularly in collecting pens for his cause: the Forestville Water District, O’Reilly Media, Sutter Hospice Thrift in Sebastopol, Pick of the Litter in Santa Rosa, and Goodwill Industries in Santa Rosa.
The Mercedes Pens Art Car is a globally recognized art car, with features on TV, print and the internet: NBC, ABC, the Science Channel, Smithsonian Channel, Wealth TV, and Mag Rack, The Press Democrat, Sonoma West Times, Today’s Vintage, Forbes.com, PC Magazine, Neatorama, Green Living Tips and countless blogs from around the world.
“Thank you for bringing your pen car and being part of this years’ Maker Faire again. Both kids and adults went nuts over your car.” –Sherry Huss, Director of Maker Faire
“Pen Guy, we loved your car! Your presentation was fantastic, engaging, funny, and personable. We can’t decide who liked the experience more – the kids or us! Thanks so much for sharing your amazing project with us. We want you to come to our class EVERY year for Earth Day!” –Mariah M. (1st Grade Teacher)
Costas Schuler was born in Athens, Greece to a Greek mother and English father who met in Australia. He lived in Greece and England and in 1985 emigrated to California. He met his wife Sandy in San Jose 13 years ago and now lives in Forestville, CA with their three daughters Emma, Sophia and Giovanna. Costas has been a professional graphic designer for over 15 years, but hopes to make this “Pen thing” a full-time gig: collecting pens, creating works of art, speaking, making videos, appearing at events, maybe writing a book about his adventures and saving a few million pens from the dump. He wants to see an entire industry that further explores other pen possibilities.
