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During the first marking period, the main idea is all about recycling. During quarter 1, we made posters to hang around the school, asking the students to save their bottle caps, and bring them to the art room so that we could use them in our art. Those bottle caps collected also went to Aurora Robinson, and she used them to create her art that is being displayed at an art gallery here in Philadelphia. 




Artist Statement:

For quarter 2, the assignment was to create any piece of art, using recycled materials. My decision was to make art using something that I could use and help eliminate from landfills, and make something that people would be able to relate to. 

The decisions I make about my work, are usually made by examining how I feel about what I am doing. If I feel good about a sketch, then I feel that I am making progress. I decided that using bottles would be a good material to use, because it's another way for recycling plastic. That was the only recycled material I used. I felt that because that was a pretty large bottle, that it would go and sit in a landfill somewhere just like the other plastics. 

After making a list about things that I could do, I decided to go with making butterflies using 2 liter bottles. I felt that butterflies are animals that people like to see when the spring comes around, and something that you might not wonder about how they're affected by pollution. You get to see butterflies of all different shapes, sizes and colors. I think by doing this project, I've realized how so many things can be affected by pollution, and how those things may be some things that you just won't realize how much it meant until it's gone. 

Sketches




Cut Out of Sketches




Plastic Cut Outs

I made a website for my project, the home page is located here.

Artist Statement

This art project was part of the course I am taking in art. Me and my classmates each had to create something out of recycled material, material that could be recycled, or trash. My goal in this project was to create something beautiful out of things that are usually regarded as ugly. 

I decided to make jewelry because I am very interested in fashion and design. I think that much of what you wear resembles your personality and/or the mood that you are feeling that day. In my personal style I like to fuse girly and preppy with things that are more edgier and hard. This jewelry represents both aspects of my style. My grandfather was an engineer and still likes to build things around the house. He has a garage full of old bolts and other odds and ends. I aimed to use his old building materials to create something creative and wearable. The only item that I bought was gorilla glue. 

The first piece I created used nails and metal circles. I used the glue to connect the nails to the metal part, and used old fishing wire as a chain. The second piece I created used an old fish hook that I connected to my dogs old vaccination tag. 

Poster
I created a bottle cap poster in order to get peoples attention so that they would bring in bottle caps for my classes project. Each student had to do a poster, and they were hung up around the school. 

 

I do this work because I feel like the world is becoming more and more trashy.  I believe we can work together to make the world a clearer place for the animals and ourselves. Every day I see people Littering and not knowing they are killing the animals and affecting the air we are breathing.  There are trash in the north pacific gyre that about the size of the state Texas. my question is why  so many trash  in the middle of the ocean? that show how we as a whole are not civilize. My goals are to get this message through everyone and make sure they understand that they are affecting the world and all living things in it including us. It wouldn’t hurt to put trashes in the trashcan.

 

My project is on a green bored because I want people to be greener to the world and shows how greener our world can get by not littering. I draw my world map instead of buying the map because I feel like is better to draw it because I’m showing that i cared about the world and to also show how art have a part in this project. I draw the map with a black crayons because I want people to see the outline of all seven continents.

 

  

My current work I do them because I had to do them and I do them with out trying to send a message through it but this one I’m trying to get people attention and understand the message behind my art. Art wasn’t always my thing because I thought art had no purpose and you can’t express yourself with art like how you can with words. I was wrong because I’m expressing how I feel about the world and how seeing the world like this affects me.

 

Artist Statement:

In art class we have been learning about plastic and how plastic is effecting our world as a whole. Plastic is not bio-degradable so it takes 1,000 years to decompose, but since we use so much plastic that process is basically irrelevant to us. Animals in the ocean eat the plastic and the plastic gets into there system. Take fish for example, the fish eat the plastic and we then catch the fish and eat the fish so now the plastic is in our body. Also mammals such as turtles, sea lions, and other sea creatures get caught in the plastic and they can suffocate or they even have to live with that plastic on them forever. 

For our first project we collected bottle caps and we also made posters asking people to collect bottle caps. We collected bottle caps to give to a artist Aurora who does bottle cap art. She created many structures using plastic bottles and there caps. That to me is a way of making people aware of the plastic problem that is now plaguing our world and it shows people how they can do something with there plastic besides simply throwing them away. Which brings me to my project, I like doing things that make people aware and may eventually cause them to get involved with helping, or making things that simple make them think deeper into different things. 

For my project I created a globe and in the water section of the world I put bottle caps in it to show how the plastic is going into our ocean. I then put animals around it with them saying little things asking humans to stop all the plastic littering and explaining how it is effecting them. To do this I used a ball, paper mâche, paint, glue, bottle caps, pencils, a box, and paper. I paper mâcheed the ball once the paper mâche dried I drew shapes to show where the land is, I then painted the ball green and blue. I got a box and painted the box black, the box is being used as a platform for the ball to rest in and that is where I placed the animals. Once the paint on the ball dried I glued the bottle caps on but only where the water is. 

I really hope that when people see my project they will take into consideration the effect plastic is having on our world and on us in general. Because our individual actions are effecting our world as a  whole. I hope that this will inspire people to take action and get together and find other uses for the plastic that we have in this world because it isn't going anywhere and we have to live with it forever. 

"Is this water sanitary? It looks questionable to me..."

The Process:



The Final Product:

This is my bottle cap poster that I took a picture of today. It has been hanging up in the halls of SLA for a few weeks now. Someone decided to add $5,000 at the left hand corner, I did not put that there. I hope that the students of SLA saw my poster and then remembered to bring in bottle caps to school because that is the purpose of this poster. Bottle caps were being collected from everyone in school so we could recycle them. I wanted my poster to be unique and clever so I figured that the plastic bottle caps were really wanted in the art room that I would make sort of like a warrent for Mr. Bottle Cap. I knew people would understand why we needed the bottle caps if wrote that the bottle caps were needed for art use.

    The goals of this art project were to incorporate bottle caps into my project because at first I was confused on the assignment, but I had a lot of cool ideas as well as sketches. Some were melting bottle caps to create bracelets telling people to recycle, or necklaces, things of that nature. I enjoy creating jewelry that I can wear, however, I realized that melting the bottle caps would be a timely process that I wouldn't be able to complete. I drew numerous sketches that I thought were a pretty good representation of my vision for the project. I wanted something that could represent who I am and something that I believe in. Recycling was the point of the project- so I knew that I wanted to do more than just create something. I wanted to send a message to those who saw my art work. I wanted my critics to learn something from my work without me having to explain exactly what it is.

    One day during art class, I noticed that near the sink, which is where the paint is, there were many boxes used to package laptops that were empty. I asked Ms.Hull if she needed them. She replied, 'no'. I was thrilled to know that I had some materials to work with on short notice. The first thought that came into my mind was to paint the boxes. Then what? I had to figure out something. I thought maybe I could use the magnets and attach them to the cardboard and create a magnet. Instead, I used the magnet as an accessory and attached tape to a magnet and a bottle cap, so that the two would stick together and I could have a different color for every color I would use. I already knew that I had magnets and wanted to work with them-regardless of how difficult the project seemed. There were so many different shaped boxes, so I chose the smallest weirdest looking one. To paint the boxes, I knew that I had to incorporate colors that would show up on the tan cardboard. I also had to think of a theme for the project to show that it has meaning. I used blue to start off as the outside base for each piece to show repetition and then the thought came to me. Like a stop light, I could use the colors red, yellow and green on the inside of each piece of card board. Then all I needed was a slogan. I knew that green usually represents 'go green'. Red typically means stop. Yellow I was stuck on. 'Stop, Go Green'. It was the most sensible slogan I could think of, considering that on a yellow light it just means go slower. Which also represents that going green can't happen over night. It is a process that can be very effective with the help of others and spreading awareness to others.
    
    In my Biochem class, I did a lot of projects prior to this one about recycling. I believe that recycling and going Green is really important to the environment. I knew that this art project was a chance for me to express artistically how I feel about these things. I did some work after the Stop Go Green and I do not have a name for it. The process was the same. I used the same type of card board boxes and paint. I did white and black for the outside, and a mix of different colors on the inside. It meant that when I am at SLA, people see me mostly for my personality (the inside with a lot of colors). However, when I leave SLA, I feel that the world sees me for my color on the outside. As my environment changes, people see me differently. Sometimes I wish people could see my vibrant side all the time, because it shows the person who I'd like to be. This art project challenged my ability to use my time wisely and to create something that shows a lot of work. I was attempting to do more than I could. I view that as a positive, because now I know where my range is and what I have to work with. I can use that to my benefit. Sometimes less is more. I've learned that from completing my project. I didn't have a big piece of art work like the rest of my peers in my Art class- but I know that I worked just as hard to find something meaningful.

See link for photos: http://msharrieffartphotos.blogspot.com/2010/11/below-are-photos-taken-of-my-art-work.html

 well i was going to do many different project when it came to thinking of this recycling theme. but i could never think of the exact right one for me to do. so in the beginning i was kind trying out different thing at home. i would start to paint but throw it away. i could figure out what i wanted to do for the longest time in this theme of using recycled things and expressing why we need to recycle so bad. so what i had my grandmother do was get a recycled canvas.

 i had the canvas at my house for a while because i didn't know what or how i was going to do this art project as i said in the beginning. but i finally brought it to school. i painted the canvas white all over again to make it cover the background. at first i was going to us the background that was already on the canvas but then i wanted to us all different colors so i just painted it white all over again. i wasn't exactly sure what i was going to do to this canvas after i painted it white, so i just got some paint and i just started painting the canvas with every color i could find. in doing this i came up with an abstract painting that i called The Nothing.

 okay so i came back one time when i was mad to paint because i paint when i am upset and i forgot to take a picture of what it looked like before. so i painted over it and took a picture of what i did then. then i took another picture of what i did the next time of course. im still working on this one painting because i feel as though it isn't done yet. i just feel like there is always something else i can add to it.

​

​Why did you come to the polls today?
Republican misinformation made me angry.

Did any political ads stand out to you?
I tried to blot them all out.

Were you certain of who you wanted to vote for when you entered the voting booth?
Very sure.

What would you like to see change in Philadelphia?
I'd like to see less corruption, and more transparency. I'd also like to see the Mayor pick bettor advisors.

Do you think your vote will count?
I hope so.

Here is our prezi with the timeline:
http://prezi.com/y5wckhswvin4/timeline/


Here is our google doc with the rest of the information:
https://docs1.google.com/a/scienceleadership.org/document/d/1dpzrIjBiU0u1ncCAFQHyawxX51IytQR7H7hjk36ISmY/edit?hl=en&authkey=CO-YhRI

With the idea of portraying an art project made out of bottle caps and showing what we as humans do with our trash was hard to come up with as an idea. First I started to draw in my sketchbook trying to figure out how I can make a three divisional art piece show all the factors that I want. I was then able to start the project by using only recycled materials.

            The way I start is different from most people. I like to have an idea then sketch it out once. Then start making different pieces of it and whatever piece turns out the best I work with and build the art piece from it. As I started to work I chose only the recyclable materials. Any thing I had access to that I felt would be of some use I incorporated it in to my project. Along with the things I remembered I made a bottle cap poster. To help collect them so they cold are used in the project, so I found a way to include them.

            My idea came to when me when I first received this project. I automatically thought about the ocean we destroy by all the trash that it encounters over an extensive period of time. Whenever I go places I love to look at the water it’s one of my favorite things to do. I find it to be very pretty and extremely relaxing. So I decided to show people what we’re doing to the water slowly but surely.

 

Weather Conditions!

In Spanish we use Hace and Esta’ meaning it’s to say the weather.

Hace is used when saying how it feels or looks. Esta’ is used when telling what the weather is doing. These are the ways to say different weather conditions.

 

Frio= cold

Calor=hot

Viento=windy

Sol=sunny

Fresco=cool

Those are the terms in which hace should  be placed in front of

Example- hace frio=its cold

 

Nevando= snowing

Lloviendo= raining

Nublado=cloudy

Those terms should be said with esta.

For example Esta’ lloviendo

 

 

This is a video, taken on 11/6, voting day

* I had a picture but it will not upload

Handing out the voter handouts was very interesting. People are very ignorant and do not even like to inform themselves in this city we live in. The first question I would ask before even explaining what the hand out was,  “Are you voting?” The responses that I received from that were somewhat amusing. The very first person I asked repulsed and refrained from the whole conversation I was willing to give, he simply shook his head and said “Nahh, I don’t want to hear it.” Then after going around I finally caught hang of the job and was informing people on the rights as a voter. I heard some interesting reasons on why not people were going out to vote on November 2^nd and the simplest was “No, I have work.” The most unusual was “I can’t, I’m not a U.S citizen.” That really caught my attention. That lady wasn’t a citizen… I pondered the fact she was here..? But I wouldn’t dare have had questioned her.  When I was at Margaret and Orthodox I even stopped into some lady who didn’t know any English, yet she still took my handout and smiled. I would have to say that, informing people on their rights, as a voter in this country was really unique today. I do believe I made a difference today, if that counts for anything.

(P.S. Philadelphia’s Margaret and Orthodox Station needs a clean up, badly)

1.     What motivated you to come out and vote?
He voted because he is a committee-person.

2.      What would you like to see changed in our political system?.

He really didn’t want to change anything, just to keep the democrats vote up.

3.     Do you vote in every election (How regularly do you vote?)
Votes every election.

4.     Do you know why we vote on Tuesday?
No

5.      Where have you encountered the highest amount of ad campaigning? Radio, TV, Print, Internet, other.

Television

6.     What was the most memorable campaign ad that you have encountered?
The Obama campaign.

7.     Are you always sure of who you are going to vote for when you walk into the booth or are you still deliberating?
Yes.

8.     What changed do you hope to see in Philadelphia as a result of this election?

He wants to help the Democratic Party to get back in.

9.     What impact do you feel that your vote will have on the election?.

Helps to keep the Democratic party in.

10.  Did you learn about voting in school? If yes, did that impact your willingness to vote today?
Yes.

What motivated you to come out and vote?
I just turned 18, so I never had the opportunity before and wasn't going to pass it up. 

Do you know why we vote on Tuesday? 
Because November 1 is a religious holiday (All Soul's) and because November was after the harvest which was convenient for our previously agrarian country, and Tuesday allowed for adequate travel time. 

Where have you encountered the highest amount of ad campaigning? Radio, TV, Print, other.
TV and radio, definitely. I haven't really received many ads in print, I'm not sure why. I assume my parents are disposing of them before I even see them. 

Are you always sure of who you are going to vote for when you walk into the booth or are you still deliberating? 
I'm fairly certain, but not entirely. 

What impact do you feel that your vote will have on the election? 
Although many say that individual votes don't matter (those buzzkills), I thoroughly believe in the American democratic republic and think that every vote counts, mine included.