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Art from Recyclables
November 2, 1998 Nov. 2 to 8 is Waste Reduction Week, and the Wellington County Recycling Centre wants citizens to focus on the three R's of waste management: reduce, reuse and recycle. Most are familiar with the Wet-Dry programme, but recycling can go much further than that. Trevor Barton is the Marketing Officer at the city's Wet - Dry recycling facility. It's his job to try to sell or redirect waste to people or businesses who can use it. Barton says there are many businesses in and around Guelph that make use of waste products, turning them into new and usable products. We have one customer who takes all our old blue jeans and denim products and remakes them into a retail material," said Barton. "Over the year, she takes one and a half tons of clothing from us." "We have another customer who takes our thermoplastic shrink wrap and makes archery targets and what she calls 'bum pads' - these are thermal seat pads used by hunters." While this kind of cottage industry is probably beyond the scope of kids, there are lots of ways you can recycle old things to create something new. Barton says he's been contacted by teachers, boy scouts and girl guides, theatre groups, art clubs, church groups and naturalists looking for materials they can use for arts, crafts, and drama productions. He's willing to help groups like this, but stresses that for health and safety reasons they need to call ahead for an appointment. The Wet-Dry facility collects doors, windows, picture frames, boxes, boards and wood, two-litre pop bottles..." too many things to list, but if you call with something specific in mind, I can let you know if we have it and will do my best to help," Barton says. Local artist Sue Richards recently took 850 pounds of junk from the WetDry facility to use on a project called Art Jam. A joint pilot venture funded by the Laidlaw Foundation, the Canada Art Council and the Ontario Arts Council, the mandate of the project is to learn two things: is there a better way of funding art? and what happens when you engage the community in art projects? Richards says that for adults, art is usually a passive experience - you go watch a play or look at paintings in an art gallery. Art Jam attempts to engage adults in actively creating art. "Adults rarely get the opportunity to roll up their sleeves, to get messy and to enjoy creating art," she says. "With this project, I hope people will enjoy the making process and not be so concerned with the finished product." One of the happy by-products of the Art lam project is the arrangement Richards has made with the local school board. "We needed a permanent place to hold the Art Jam sessions," Richards says. "and there was Torrance Public School." Torrance school was closed In June and for now, at least, remains an empty and unused space. But because funding is tight, the ever-innovative Richards approached the board about using the space in exchange for her teaching art classes to students in nearby schools. "These sessions will follow the school board curriculum," says Richards, "but will also allow the students to explore and develop their own artistic philosophies." The Grade 4 art curriculum requires students to identify monochromatic colour schemes, that is tints and shades of one colour, as well as to look at artistic design. "One of the ideas we have for this aspect of Art Jam, is to have students trace their body image on large recycled pieces of newsprint," says Richards. "They will then paint their images using a monochromatic colour scheme of their choice." "An important part of this activity will be the discussion that follows: why did you choose that colour? what does it reflect about your personality? This kind of reflection teaches children to think about art and what it means." Another project Richards has In mind Is to collect old bicycles and paint them. "I was approached by a university student who is in the process of collecting old bicycles. His idea is to have places around town where people can take a bike, ride to their destination and leave the bike in a designated depot area. There would be no cost to use the bikes, it's a form of alternative transportation and it diverts garbage from landfill sites. "There is an exciting opportunity for students to see art in motion, to take ownership of their art, and to see it displayed publicly in a unique form. There are opportunities for huge levels of learning." The Art Jam philosophy has two goals: to have the experience of creating art without fear of making mistakes; and to have these creations displayed In public places. "I'm challenging the Idea that art must last forever. What if art is only meant to be there for the moment? The life of these creations could be very short - a day, a week, a month - but that does not detract from the value of the project ," explains Richards. Richards says there are many ways parents can encourage this kind of experence in their own homes. "First - remember you can paint on anything and with anything. Paper bags, newspapers, jars, cans, rocks - there are no limits. Garbage pails, benches, and picnic tables are other surfaces where you can display you kids artwork In public," she says. "Second - give your kids a space where they can work without worrying about the surroundings. Obviously you don't want paint splatters on the carpet but basements and garages are wonderful places to work on art." A third aspect in encouraging your children to be creative - don't criticize! "You have to keep on deck with your kids," says Richards. "If they want to paint a blue apple, let them. You don't want to stifle ther creatiivity." |
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Definitely a must for all communities. |
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