Think twice before you take out the garbage. Artist Jason Mecier can turn anything into a celebrity portrait.

By Jackie Beat

Jason Mecier's memserizing mosaics are a lot like Hollywood: From a distance you see something beautiful and glamorous, but up close you quickly realize that in reality you're staring at worthless trash. Insert Paris Hilton joke here. Jackie Beat recently spoke to the artist about his upcoming show, Parker Posey's homemade bong, and how Phyllis Diller smells.

Jackie Beat: Perusing your portfolio of portraits is like attending the ultimate Hollywood party -- there's Farrah Fawcett, The Rock, Peaches. Considering your obvious love of celebrities, Tinseltown seems like the perfect place for your art.

Jason Mecier: Yes, I'm thrilled to be showing my new work in Hollywood! I'm doing portraits right now which incorporate celebrities' personal items into them. It's called "Celebrity Junkdrawer." So far, Phyllis Diller, TV's Extra host Dayna Devon, Parker Posey and Kathy Najimy have sent me stuff. I am anxiously awaiting packages from Morgan Fairchild, Kate Pierson of The B-52's, Jordan Ladd, Heidi Fleiss, and others.

One of my favorite things about your agent's Web site (www.theispot.com/rep/weinberg) is clicking on "Detail" and seeing a close-up of all the strange things that make up a particular portrait. Where do you get all that stuff?

I go to junk shops, pick stuff up off the street, my friends save me stuff, people send me things, and quite a few corner stores have amazing vintage products still on the shelves.

If you could get a box of personal items with which to create a portrait of any famous person, living or dead, who would it be?

That's a very long list! I've recently sent request letters to hundreds of celebrities. At this moment Dolly Parton, Paris Hilton, Ellen Degeneres, Joan Rivers, Pam Anderson, Tyra Banks, Heather Locklear, the Ying Yang twins, Elvira, Kathy Griffin, Susan Tyrrell, and, of course, Shelley Duvall are at the top of my list. And as for dead people, my friend has a bag of Lucille Ball's trash from the '60s that he's going to contribute to her portrait. Also I approached John Waters about contributing something on Divine and Edith Massey's behalf.

Has anyone turned down a request?

Sharon Stone, Katie Couric, David Letterman, Jay Leno, psychic Sylvia Browne, Liz Taylor, and Cher.

Jeez, get a sense of humor people! What or who inspires you?

Phyllis Diller! She sends me boxes of her old stuff every month! I mean really personal things like her eye glasses, car keys, expired perscriptions, the mussel shells she has just slurped for lunch, and tons of anti-itch creams. The lady loves Lanacane! I absolutely adore her! She smells so good! Farrah Fawcett has also inspired some of my greatest and most painstaking art pieces. I love her. I am dying to trade a piece of artwork with her.

Speaking of celebrity artwork, do you own any?

One of my prize possessions is my Parker Posey bong that she made in her pottery class. I mean, how lucky can I be? I would love a piece of Anna Nicole Smith's artwork or something by Marilyn Manson.

Do you do commissions? Let's just say there was this self-centered middle-aged drag queen who wanted her portrait done by you... How much would it cost her?

I do commissions starting at $1,500 and up, but I have a special rate for fabulous middle-aged drag queens. Call me!

See Jason Mecier's Green With Envy -- a Celebration of Celebrity Friday, March 17, at The Upstairs Gallery at Retropia, 1443 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood. For more information, call (323) 871-4000, or visit www.retropia.net. For more information on Mecier, visit www.jasonmecier.com.