Rhonda Kuhlman had a motto: “Recycle, reuse, redeem, reborn.”

It was the guiding principle behind her work — art created from bottle caps, candy wrappers, tin cans and other castoff items.

Kuhlman died at home Sunday morning of complications from congestive heart failure. She was 42, born July 25, 1967, Oklahoma City to Larry and Jane Kuhlman.

Her work “meant everything to her,” said Chris Ake, her creative partner and husband.

“She's been an artist her entire life,” Ake said. “And then, after being sick — she had cancer when she was 19 — it was important for her to just always create something. She was really big into environmental issues and recycling, so it was always about making something beautiful out of trash and trying to improve your environment and surroundings.”

There will be no funeral or memorial service; Kuhlman's body was donated to the University of Texas Health Science Center at her request, Ake said.

The couple moved to San Antonio from Austin 11 years ago. Together, they operated the RC Gallery for three years in the Blue Star Arts Complex.

About six years ago, Kuhlman and fabric artist Jane Bishop started the Rock Paper Scissors Collective of women artists.

“She was just everybody's cheerleader,” said artist Paula Cox, a member of the collective. “She was a big supporter of the arts and women, and just a bundle of energy, a real dynamo.”

Died: Sept. 6, 2009, in San Antonio

Survived by: Husband Chris Ake of San Antonio; parents Larry and Jane Kuhlman of Columbus; brother Karl of New Braunfels and sister Debby Dunn of Houston.