Student Exibit Title

Exciting News!

 

WE HAVE AN EXIBIT TITLE!

 SYNTHESIS 

- Kristin Kocher

"The Story of Stuff"

Students remember to watch The Story of Stuff, by Annie Leonard.  You are required to post discussion/blog comments by Wednesday, March 31.  

Comments may be posted by clicking "comments" located directly below this blog post.

"Cultivating a Relationship"

In their initial state, these debris materials were not considered precious.  Students had to re-discover the value of each piece by spending time with it.  Scrubbing, soaking, sponging and rubbing each piece.  Working to remove the consequence of disregard.  It was hard.  It was tedious and time consuming and yet, beneath each layer, the material slowly revealed its hidden potential. 

Developing a relationship with the material is similar to "cultivating a relationship" with a friend or lover.  You begin to learn more about it's behavior, and how it will react.  You familiarize yourself with it's personal traits.  You grow to respect it…and at times you fight with it.

Paying thoughtful attention to develop a personal connection with the material.  To care.  To love; something that no one else did.  To give it a meaning and a new purpose.  A second chance, a rebirth.  

There is a very specific procedure for cleaning plastic bottles and removing labels and adhesives.  Check the Technical Advice page for more info on that... 


-Jacqueline McClure

"Knee Deep in the Creek"

We students at CPCC are currently working to create sculptures from materials they have "INTERCEPTED FROM THE WASTE STREAM" at Anita Stroud Park.

On March 8th, Martin Luther King Day, over 60 people joined forces to get "knee deep" into Irwin Creek.  Together everyone collected over two truck loads of  garbage thus preventing this material from further polluting the Bright Walk Neighborhood.

We found a great deal of plastic and glass debris. Surprisingly, discarded children's toys, tires, and bicycle parts were also pulled from the creek water.

For students with sculpture in mind, it became a treasure hunt for materials to be used in their sculpture projects. Everyone found at least one piece, most found several.

The creek clean up was a fun and beautiful way to bring people together and serve our community!

     

*all pictures in courtesy of Meredith Jones

"Critical Mass"

After viewing Wasteland and Bag It, it is clear that we have reached a "critical mass" in curbing the effects of toxic plastics in our communities.  

Determined to INTERCEPT THE WASTE STREAM, sculpture students have been working hard to turn trash into meaningful art.  Here are our 4 main requirements; 

• Our work must consist of 90% waste 

• Our work must not use any toxic materials (paint, glue etc...) in its fabrication 

• We must incorporate at least one piece of debris from the stream cleanup

• All our materials/components for our pieces must be 100% clean

Various techniques such as cutting, riveting and crimping are being implemented into the fabrication of the sculptures and some students have delved into the world of power tools and welding. 

With proper guidance / careful practice, we are working through the challenge of turning garbage into art, and from the wreckage, beauty is being discovered.  

A group critique made room for feedback on the work so far.  Conversations and constructive criticism helped us young artists clarify our concepts and identify what is necessary to create our works of art.

-Jacqueline McClure/Kristin Kocher