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| Volunteer Marti Dickerson explains the scavenger hunt to a group of first graders from Toliver Elementary. |
For nearly two months now, young families, school groups and adults alike have been learning how to “rethink recycling†here at the Community Arts Center. One of the goals of this exhibit is to explain that great art and creativity aren’t limited to expensive paints and formal training – YOU have the power to beautify theh world around you using the everyday materials you have at your fingertips.
And sadly, this exhibit is about to come to an end! The last day is this Sunday, March 30.
This is the fifth annual blockbuster exhibit that takes a seemingly non-arts theme and proves that it relates to art and can be creatively represented by anyone the community. Interactive activities and crafts include aluminum can crushing, a “junk band jam†on repurposed instruments, reused wrapping paper origami, a drawing machine made from an old record player, and Lisi’s Art Lab crafts that use cardboard, paper and plastic materials.
The idea for Re arose fromthe nation-wide campaign that encourages the public to reduce, reuse and recycle everyday items to save the environment. But at Re, we ask our visitors for more than that – we want them to look for ways that the same items they toss in the trash or recycling bin every day can be repurposed, recreated and reimagined into beautiful and meaningful art.
The exhibit’s main attraction is a garden full of giant trees, animals and insects made of paper, plastic, cardboard, and other materials that were once used for some other purpose. The overall effect has been compared to that of stepping in to Willy Wonka’s garden in the movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!
Re has seen hundreds of individual visitors so far, including more than 30 groups of K-12 students from Boyle and the surrounding counties. Many children have never visited an exhibit of this kind before.
“This is the first time I’ve ever been to an art museum!” said Gage, a third grader and recent visitor from Hustonville Elementary. He continued to exclaim “That’s cool! And that’s cool!” throughout the junk band jam and garden exhibits.
In addition to the activities here at the Arts Center, students continued to explore creative ways to reuse and recycle in the classroom. Our education director Lindsay Chelf put together some great pre- and post- visit materials that relate to Kentucky state education standards, and we heard from teachers who created their own lessons to tie their class’s visit to other subjects. Julie Dexter taught her 5th grade class at Hogsett Elementary how to plot points and graph statistics based on student’s favorite aspects of the exhibit.
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| Hustonville Elementary fifth grader asked and answered a lot of questions in the Farmers Gallery! |
A coloring contest, sponsored by the Advocate Messenger, received entries from 200 students. One winner from each grade level saw their art printed in the Advocate Messenger last Sunday and received a goody bag from the Arts Center filled with arts and environmentally-friendly prizes, including a free pass to a Grown Up and Me Starry Night Studio.
Re also includes a gallery of artwork made by professional, regional artists. These pieces are made of anything and everything, from Styrofoam cups and toy parts, to scrap metal and horseshoes. Exhibiting artists include Connie Estes Beale, Cynthia Carr, John Dixon, Sam Greenwell, J2bad, Brandon Long, Kathleen O’Brien, Wayne Thurman, Mike Welch, Paula Whitaker, and our artist in residence Mark Wilhelm.
We owe special thanks to a few sponsors! This exhibit could not have been a success without the financial and advertising support from sponsors Stuart Powell Ford Lincoln Mazda, Panasonic Appliance Company of America and the Advocate Messenger. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU.
Re: Rethink Recycling is only open through THIS SUNDAY, March 30. As always, feel free to call or email us if you have any questions or feedback about our exhibits and classes – we love hearing from you!
Chelsea Compton
Marketing Director
chelsea@communityartscenter.net
859-236-4054
IF YOU GO
Re: Rethink Recycling
Today and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sundays 1 to 5 p.m.
$4 children, students and seniors
$6 adults
COMING UP
Intro to Acting
Tuesdays, April 1 – May 6, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
$45. Ages 55+. Register now.
Scene Study
Tuesdays, April 1 – May 13, 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Try out different genres of theatre, and learn how to work with others in varying types of scenes.
$45. For middle and high school students. Register now.
Characterization
Tuesdays, April 1 – May 13, 8 to 10 p.m.
What can you bring to your character that makes it unique and intriguing for the audience? Build skills that will help you with auditioning, writing and performing in all types of shows.
$45. Ages 16+. Register now.
Intro to Pottery (Youth)
Mondays, April 7 – 28, 6 to 7:30 p.m.
$40. For elementary and middle school students. Register now.
