Bacich Upcycling Art Installation
Open House
April 6th 2017
Annually I like to create and direct an
event/project that involves and connects the entire Bacich student body and the
immediate community. This
purposeful activity connects students to artist and gives them the exciting
opportunity to be part of a large installation. The
2017 Bacich Upcycling Art Installation will entail one large art installation
per grade level, temporarily installed in different locations around the Bacich
campus.
During the months of February and March, students will
be introduced to the term and concept of upcycling. Upcycling is the practice of creating
a product/project from waste or unwanted items, or adapting an existing product
in some way to add value. The purpose of upcycling is reducing waste and
improving the efficiency of resources used.
This school wide project is to promote recycling and reuse of materials emphasizing creativity and innovation, in line with California’s goals to keep 75% of waste out of landfills by the year 2020. This is an opportunity for students to learn more about recycling in Marin County. My goal is to raise public awareness regarding recycling, reducing, and reusing of materials.
This school wide project is to promote recycling and reuse of materials emphasizing creativity and innovation, in line with California’s goals to keep 75% of waste out of landfills by the year 2020. This is an opportunity for students to learn more about recycling in Marin County. My goal is to raise public awareness regarding recycling, reducing, and reusing of materials.
Each grade
level will work with, and “upcycle” one product/material. Additional recycled
materials may be added to embellish the final art piece. Students will have the
opportunity to alter the product/material in to an exquisite piece of art.
Students’ upcycled art pieces will be display as a grade level group
installation. I have assigned products/materials to each grade level, (please see below).
Thank you to students, staff and the community who helped collect the following products/materials.
Products/materials to be upcycled by
grade level:
4th grade: old
eyeglasses, sunglasses 3-D glasses, with or without lenses
3rd grade: CD’s
2nd grade: Plastic
water bottles
1st grade: colored cardboard (gift boxes, cereal boxes, cardboard
with interesting colors/prints
TK and K: aluminum, or tin cans any size, soda cans, soup cans, food cans
In addition to the grade level specific
items above, we are also collected small items to embellish and decorate the upcycled
artworks. We collected ribbons, string, yarn, citrus and onion bags, beads, buttons, feathers, shine
things, plastic spoons and forks, screws, nuts, bolts, legos, puzzle pieces, light bulbs etc.
Please stay tuned to see the innovative art pieces students will create out of the above mentioned resources. It's going to be a fantastic show!
Upcycling is taking an item that is no longer needed or wanted
and giving it new life as something that is either useful or creative. This
seemingly basic concept has sparked an exciting revolution with this
generation.
History of Upcycling
The term upcycle began to gain traction in the mid 90s. Then in 2002, William McDonough and Michael Braungart’s book ‘Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things’ brought the term into the public eye, and solidified its use in pop culture. McDonough and Braungart were pioneers in the field of upcycling, advocating that we should all strive to extend a products life. Today, that idea is interpreted as meaning we should create from what is being discarded; whenever possible.
The term upcycle began to gain traction in the mid 90s. Then in 2002, William McDonough and Michael Braungart’s book ‘Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things’ brought the term into the public eye, and solidified its use in pop culture. McDonough and Braungart were pioneers in the field of upcycling, advocating that we should all strive to extend a products life. Today, that idea is interpreted as meaning we should create from what is being discarded; whenever possible.
Examples of Upcycling
- A gift bow made from a magazine
- A kitchen table made from salvaged barn wood
- Earrings created from old skateboards
- A girl’s skirt made from a man’s shirt
- Ballet flats crafted from newspaper
- A gift bow made from a magazine
- A kitchen table made from salvaged barn wood
- Earrings created from old skateboards
- A girl’s skirt made from a man’s shirt
- Ballet flats crafted from newspaper
But isn’t that just recycling?
Some would say that upcycling must move goods or supplies up the supply chain while recycling does not. Others would conclude that upcycling is a physical process and recycling is a chemical process. Still other definitions state that for something to be considered upcycled there must be an increase in worth or quality. Because one can find truth in all of these explanations, the broad definition includes them all. Upcycling is taking an item that is no longer needed or wanted and giving it new life as something that is either useful or creative
Some would say that upcycling must move goods or supplies up the supply chain while recycling does not. Others would conclude that upcycling is a physical process and recycling is a chemical process. Still other definitions state that for something to be considered upcycled there must be an increase in worth or quality. Because one can find truth in all of these explanations, the broad definition includes them all. Upcycling is taking an item that is no longer needed or wanted and giving it new life as something that is either useful or creative
Why has Upcycling become so
popular?
The increased awareness of environmental responsibility and a slow economy has led to a major increase in upcycling. The college student short on cash may upcycle their out of fashion jeans by adding a few seams and rips instead of buying a new pair all together. Homeowners are looking for ways to renovate with salvaged, and in some cases, free materials. The green mom on a budget may upcycle her old clothes into clothes for her children. This innovative spirit and environmental consciousness has led to upcycling in nearly all areas of life. From green companies to your Mother’s kitchen, people are looking to save money and the planet. Upcycling does both. –
The increased awareness of environmental responsibility and a slow economy has led to a major increase in upcycling. The college student short on cash may upcycle their out of fashion jeans by adding a few seams and rips instead of buying a new pair all together. Homeowners are looking for ways to renovate with salvaged, and in some cases, free materials. The green mom on a budget may upcycle her old clothes into clothes for her children. This innovative spirit and environmental consciousness has led to upcycling in nearly all areas of life. From green companies to your Mother’s kitchen, people are looking to save money and the planet. Upcycling does both. –
