There is beauty in imperfections, and this is what Los Angeles-based artist Nina Salerno wanted to convey when she started the project called "Perfect Rejects."
Through "Perfect Rejects," Salerno uses defective stuffed toys and transforms them into lovable toys for kids. It all started when she found a box of discarded plush toys thrown out from an estate sale. It was clear that the toys had defects and did not pass the standards of regular toy stores, but where others saw trash, Salerno saw an opportunity.
"The toys looked so vulnerable, rejected and abandoned. Something motivated me to take them home to my studio and turn them into something else. It struck me that they still had value, even if someone else had failed to see it," she told The Huffington Post.
"I created my first toy and loved the final result –- by being a little odd and different, it was distinct, not flawed. I called it a 'Perfect Reject,' and it was that particular creation that started my journey of compassion and empathy through play. When I shared it with some friends, they loved the idea too. I received requests to make more, which I did," she added.
Salerno began making dozens of Perfect Rejects and people loved her idea. In fact, her creations are now being sold at museums and art shows for as much as $450 per stuffed animal.
But Salerno has a different dream. She hopes that her creations will make it mainstream instead of just being sold at collector prices. The artist even started her own Kickstarter campaign to create "Wonder the Vegan Wolf" in large quantities so that the toy will be more affordable and readily available for the public.
"As I work to expand Perfect Reject from one-of-a-kind art pieces to a line of fun and affordable toys, I'm building on this idea," Salerno continued. "My first mass-produced toy, Wonder the Vegan Wolf, is (as the name implies) both a wolf and a vegan. That's pretty different. And he's a little odd-looking. He's unusual, but the world is a better place because of it."
Salerno hopes to reach her $19,600 goal by March 16, 2015. So far she has already generated $2,679 worth of pledges. Should the campaign succeed, Salerno plans to donate 10 per cent of every plush toy sold to Wolves Offered Life & Friendship (W.O.L.F.), a wolf sanctuary and educational non-profit organisation.
"As humans, we often react to diversity by labelling the things that make us distinct as 'imperfections.' They're not, and when we celebrate our diversity rather than condemning it, we foster joy, strength and empowerment," she said.
