As part of their African art unit. 6th graders watched a wonderful video from the Museum of Folk Art in Santa Fe. The video, Recycled and Re-seen, features artists from around the world using recycled materials in their artwork, including steel drums in the Caribbean and "pants quilts" made in Texas. One segment features artists Senegal creating metal sculptures and toys from recycled metal including tin sheeting and aluminum cans. One man, Assane Faye, spoke about how making a living as an artist gives him dignity. The important point I wanted to make with the students is that recycling and repurposing is not just a trendy thing, and not just a way to save the earth; for many people around the world, it is a way to provide for themselves and to change their lives. We had a great class discussion about this, and I was happy to see the students moved by the narratives.
We took a closer look at some sculptures made with cans and metal sheeting, then I showed them a contemporary artist's twist on the repurposing theme. French artist Didier Triglia creates fantastic can sculptures, and the students were excited and inspired.
The students were so excited to create their own work. To add spontaneity to the work, they held off on sketching their ideas until after they had crushed their cans. I encouraged them to look closely at the unique shape created in the crushing process, and to try to see how it spoke to them. From animals, to zombies, to super heroes, no two cans turned out the same. This was my first time doing the project, and this lesson is a keeper for sure!
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