Middle School Art Education News
The Art of Recycling!
by Carla Real, Middle Level Representative
Times are getting tough and we find our school budgets getting smaller. As art teachers we are constantly told that budgets are going to get cut and we will have to make it with what we got. It is becoming more of a struggle for schools to supply all that art departments need. Facing these challenges, art teachers have to be resourceful and creative to balance the needs of quality education with limited budgets.
Recently, as I was walking through our school I discovered the remnants of a large shipment of computers. Each of the computers came in its own box with an abundance of packing materials. As these computers were unpacked, the materials were tossed aside in a large pile on the floor. While some may consider this trash, I thought the pile looked fun! I just wanted to jump in - and so did my students. It reminded me of Christmas morning; when my kids preferred playing with the boxes the toys came in rather than the toys.
The janitors informed me it was all going in the trash. Although I had no concrete plans, I knew we could do something with it. I found myself stacking these foam pieces like legos in my room. While they sat for weeks in my room, many imaginative ideas popped up from kids on how we could transform them. It ultimately came down the idea that the raw materials will inspire the artist with an idea and how to use them in a work of art.
Recycled art is not a new concept. I have found my students are creative with almost anything. I have also found it takes more space and planning for recycled projects. If you have tried it in the past and you did not like it – do not give up. The challenge for me was finding a way to make recycled art successful for all of my students.
In the past, I would have them work individually on a recycled work of art. Unfortunately, some of my students felt unsuccessful with their finished work. However, when students collaborate on these projects as a team or class, their individual contributions combine to a greater pride and ownership in creating their piece. The students feed off each other’s ideas and want to create. The process often involves a healthy struggle to get them all on the same page with the final work and how it will come to life.
With the computer recyclables, as students were working with the packing materials, they had to compromise and agree on one idea. It was a couch. This couch gave birth to an entire living room made out of recycled packaging. As they built, they came up with a coffee table, beanbag chair, pillow and a vase of flowers. The beanbag chair was a large plastic trash bag with shredded paper from the office shredder.
This project was born of creative minds and built with a lot of hot glue. Construction took about seven days and was then placed out in the common area for kids to sit on. It held up remarkably well and created a lot of interesting conversations. After a month on display, one of my students took the set home to put in his room.
This project has inspired me to take another look at “trash” for anything that can be reclaimed and used in by my students. I have staff and janitors who ask me if I want stuff before it heads off to the dump. I keep my eye open at garage sales for cheap furniture to paint and or sculpt. I am rewarded by sending out notes in our school bulletin for materials and art supplies anyone would like to donate. I even got an offer to donate a piano. I was thrilled and my students did a wood assemblage.
The enthusiasm of these projects is contagious and I encourage you all to recycle. Make something out of nothing. If it has not gone well in the past, try it in another way or use another material. It is good for our students in the arts and great for the environment!