Recycled Art Melbourne in Schools

Recycled Art Melbourne by Visual Feast Creations

At the moment there is a whole lot of talk about the environment, carbon tax, alternative energies and re-use, recycling.  You read about in newspapers, see it on TV and they even write in stories about in soap operas.  Its not just adults that are talking about some of these issue though it is now also a subject that is tackled in both Primary and Secondary Schools.

Kids are learning about simple ways in which to help make a difference and one of the simplest is recycling or reusing.  This week we were at Ripponlea Primary School where over the day we created 8 murals "Landscape or Landfill" using old coffee sacks as our canvas and a whole collection of industrial waste along with offcuts of upholstery fabrics.  

All up over 80 children took part in the activity which proved a huge success.  These works are now displayed in their school hall for parents and visitors to view.  

RIPPONLEA PRIMARY SCHOOL 

Next term our first school visit will be to St John's Primary School in Heidelberg where we will be working with the preps to create props for their upcoming school play.  The subject recycling.  52 children will come together over 2 workshops to create musical shakers and dancing wands out of our collection of cardboard offcuts, ribbons and anything else colourful and eyecatching we have managed to collect during our waste rescue missions.

Using art to teach young people about recycling is one of the most affective and simplest tools.  It is non-confrontational, colourful and even the kid who says how much they hate art will usually end up making something incredible and being proud of their achievements.  It is both educational and fun.

Our use of recycled art materials though doesn't just have to be all about teaching kids about the environment.  In our regular kids art classes in we often use recycled materials.  When working with collage, drawing, painting, printmaking etc we don't always need to run out and buy the best quality brand new papers and canvases.  At times using an old canvas, pages of a book or fabric scraps etc make for an interesting and effective texture and make the work even that much more original.

Our kids are run every Tuesday during school term from our new location in Clifton Hill.  The new studio is a large beautiful old refurbished warehouse with amazing light, beautiful high ceilings and its even warm in Winter.  There is even a couple of couches in the corner if parents would like to sit and relax whilst the class is happening.  The studio is used regularly by professional artists, film makers and photographers from around Melbourne. 

3rd term begins Tuesday 22nd July

WHEN:  Tuesdays (during second term)

WHERE:  Clifton Hill 

TIME:  4pm - 5.30pm

COST:  $20 casual (Term 3 if paid in full upfront $162)

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL please call Clare on 04222 02869 

or email:  clare@visualfeastcreations.com.au

Recycled Art Workshops Melbourne by Visual Feast Creations

Recycled Art Workshops              For Bookings phone Clare 04222 02869

After completing the recycled art project in Sydney for Ikeas Community Fence Art Project I am back in Melbourne preparing for a series of recycled art workshops for kids at festivals and schools across Victoria.

The recycled art project in Sydney was held at Ferncourt Primary School (Marrickville) over 6 days.  Working with kids from years 3 - 6 we created 12 murals on old coffee sacks based on the theme "Our Home".  The coffee sacks (donated by Voodoo Coffee Company, Sydhenam Rd, Marrickville) were used to create canvases in the shapes inspired by Marrickville houses which the kids then painted, collaged and weaved various materials into taking inspiration from their own personal surroundings.  What transpired was 12 colourful and extremely textured works of art.

This workshop was one of twelve, run by 12 different artists including Julie Doye and Jess Cook (Token Imagination) taking place within the Marrickville/Tempe Community in Sydney.  The works will be installed along the fence line form mid October at Ikea's new Tempe store for a period of up to 4 months.

My first project back in Melbourne will be at Ripponlea Primary School (East St Kilda) were we create 8 small murals once again using coffee sacks as our canvas on the theme "Landscape or Landfill".  Students will create a series of landscape inspired collages from materials that would normally end up in Landfill highlighting the devestating impact this is having on our environment. 

These projects are amongst my favourite to run, working on collective art works that both allow children to learn something about our environment and new ways in which to be creative.  Art, education and recycling go hand in hand.

Other projects coming up include 8 days at Australia's largest Childrens Festival - Fun For Kids in Warrnambool running a series of recycled art workshops aimed at kids of all age.  The festival runs from 3rd - 8th June the first week of the Victorian School Holidays.  Over the second week along with my assistants we will be running recycled art workshops at Northcote Shopping Plaza and also our usual holiday program at Gasworks Art Park in South Melbourne. 

So winter is an extremely busy time of the year these days as well as the summer period.  


To make a booking for Recycled and Community Art Workshops please call Clare on 04222 02869


www.visualfeastcreations.com.au