Photos
The bottle formed a “body” and the sparkly sock was stuffed with a plastic bag, and shaped with tape to look like a head. On Wednesday, Ariana glued a photo of her face to the doll and worked on its arms.
“I’m going to put it in a red hoodie with my initials,” said Ariana, 10.
All the students at Horizons are participating in an art project where students make self-portraits out of their own words and their own recycled materials taking a detour from the landfill – plastic bottles, single socks and plastic grocery bags, art teacher Amada Lang said.
Students wrote poems around the words “I am from,” concentrating on things, people and activities in their daily lives, and the students will make little books with their poems for the dolls to hold.
“I want you to think about how to connect where you’re from – from your poem – to your doll,” Lang told students.
Lang said that she was inspired by a presentation by artist Diane Kurzyna, also known as Ruby Re-Usable, who specializes in creating art out of items that would be discarded and teaching students about recycling.
Lang said she wanted students to think about how to reuse trash generated at home.
Lang said she incorporated the concept of the poems to help students reflect upon the things, people and activities that influence their lives. The project qualified for a $1,000 North Thurston Multicultural Advisory Council grant, which enabled Lang to bring Kurzyna to Horizons.
Lang also enlisted the help of the parents, by asking that the children bring in the lone socks, clean drink bottles and bags. Students brought in more than 800 bottles and countless socks and bags.
Kurzyna said except for hot glue and tape, she didn’t bring any additional materials for the project. It wasn’t necessary.
“There is no shortage of garbage,” she said.
“It’s important that the trash is generated by them and we’re using their garbage before it goes to waste,” Kurzyna said.
Lang said the dolls will be grouped together and featured at Arts Walk, Lacey Fun Fair, and the North Thurston Diversity Festival which is scheduled for later this year.
Venice Buhain: 360-754-5445
www.theolympian.com/edblog
