Trash to Treasure, Bin to Beauty: The 2018 Recycled Materials Art Competition
/The Recycled Materials Art Competition is always a highlight of our year, filled with outstanding entries from local students all over Marin County. Judging was incredibly challenging, as we received a number of beautiful and creative entries. We would like to congratulate and thank ALL of our entrants for joining this year and demonstrating how creative problem solving can help us achieve a sustainable future.
K-1ST GRADE GROUP ENTRIES:
WINNER:
School: Reed Elementary, Kindergarten
Teacher: Teresa Bowe
Project: Kandinsky Circles
"In March we did an author study of Eric Carle and admired the beautiful illustrations he creates using painted paper. We were inspired by his work and created our own painted paper art using the same techniques. For one project, I used a die cut machine to cut circles from their painted paper. The leftover paper scraps were too beautiful to throw away, so I brought them back to class to show the students that art and beauty can be found in the most unexpected places - even in trash!
This was the beginning of our recycled art project. We decided to create a recycled art version of Kandinsky’s “Squares with Concentric Circles,” using the leftover painted paper scraps for our colorful frame. We read the book, “The Noisy Paintbox,” by Barb Rosenstock and we were inspired by Kandinsky’s perseverance to create his own style of art.
I asked students to save and bring in lids from home. We were amazed at how quickly we collected over one hundred lids. This started a meaningful discussion about individually packaged items and how much trash they can create. We agreed as a class to do our best to reduce the amount of trash we make each day.
Once we had a collection of lids, we sorted them by size. We looked at Kandinsky’s art piece again and noticed we would also need squares behind our circles. We collected paper lunch trays from our school lunch and cut them into 5x5 inch squares. Each student painted one square and three lids and then put them together to create their own Kandinsky circle. We put all 20 students’ creations together to create our recycled art project.
This is my first year participating in the Recycled Art Contest and I was amazed at the opportunities it gave us to discuss reducing, recycling, and reusing. I love how this project provided the students with a tangible way to see their effect on the world and how they can help by reducing the amount of trash they make and reusing trash to make something new and creative. Thank you for this opportunity and I look forward to doing it with my class again next year!"
RUNNER UP
School: Reed Elementary, Kindergarten
Teacher: Sarah Vattuone
Project: Our Neighborhood
"As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has--or ever will have--something inside that is unique to all time. It's our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression." -Fred Rogers
"This cardboard sculpture was inspired by two things - our kindergarten unit on communities and our school lunch program. “Choice Lunch” provides over 200 Reed School students with a delicious, healthy mid-day meal each school day. Cardboard trays and milk cartons are recycled in the traditional way on a daily basis. Through this project, we sought out a less traditional, yet creative and fun way to recycle them in our classroom.
The milk cartons were painted by the students using acrylic paint they mixed themselves. The students reported that they loved mixing primary paint colors, testing out the different color “recipes” little-by-little to get one more new shade for the next slightly different house. The folds of the edges of the lunch trays were just perfect for a rooftop. The students added a decorative edge with scissors. Students used leftover newspaper from a previous project to craft tiny windows and doors.
Multiple children worked together to create each individual home. This isn’t 40 separate pieces of art put together. Each carton in this colorful community is the result of multiple students adding their own personal touch to many homes. The students all participated in each step - from collecting materials, cleaning the cartons and trays to mixing paint, painting and constructing individual pieces and the final project as a whole.
Our colorful recycled neighborhood shows that we are all alike, yet we are all different. We are generally made of up the same materials, but people we meet and know along our path in life will shape us little-by-little, in different ways. Celebrating our individuality while understanding the power of community."
-Sarah Vattuone
HONORABLE MENTION
School: Reed Elementary, First Grade
Teacher: Wendy Jawor
Project: Recycled Circles
"First graders in Room 15 have created a recycled materials project using cardboard, paper and plastic. First, the children were tasked to bring in materials from around their homes and from the lunch area (cardboard trays, cardboard, paper and plastic caps). Children worked in pairs and traced a five-inch circle onto the cardboard lunch trays and then cut them out. They then chose from a variety of cardboard and paper products that had been collected and brought in. Children used scissors and white glue to cut, arrange and glue down their cardboard and paper onto their circles.
After an overnight of drying, the children got to choose if they wanted plastic caps to enhance their piece. The caps were glued down with either wood glue or hot glue to ensure a good hold. Later, the children took turns painting the big cardboard pieces with black tempera paint, which was rescued from the curb recycle pile. We painted over the big workmen’s footprints! After the paint dried, the three cardboard squares were connected and circles were then glued onto the cardboard. Behold our finished masterpiece!"
-Wendy Jawor
2ND-3RD GRADE GROUP ENTRIES
WINNER
School: Short Elementary, 2nd Grade
Teacher: Julie Ryan
Project: Trash to Treasure
"In conjunction with the Zero Waste and Ocean Guardian Grant work my class is participating in this year, we decided to use the cans we could find from our classroom and staffroom collections here at school. Our theme was "From Trash to Treasure" (our guided reading groups read the Scholastic book titled Trash and Treasure first).
We started with cans and turned them into what will become outdoor garden fence decorations.
After choosing their can, students cut it into a flower shape. After carefully bending down the "petals", they went to work designing and trimming their flower petals. Finally, they painted their flowers with beautiful Spring colors."
-Julie Ryan
Runner Up
School: The Cove School, Third Grade
Teacher: Wendy Meunier-Estes
Project: Recycled Quilt
"This quilt was made by two 3rd grade girls, using scraps of fabric that were donated from a family who did some spring cleaning at home. The batting for the quilt consists of plastic water bottles. The idea for the batting was suggested by a classroom aide, but the girls did the "stuffing" themselves. The quilt looks beautiful hanging on the wall of our classroom, and the girls have decided to donate it so that others will be able to enjoy it for years to come."
-Wendy Meunier-Estes
Honorable Mention
School: Edna Maguire Elementary
Teacher: Carrie Morgan
Project: Campus Cleanup
"For this year’s PaperSeed Recycled Art Competition Entry we focused on why our school campus and students produce so much trash. We have tried hard to instill a culture of reduce, reuse, recycle and rot, but the occasional reminder is still very helpful. We decided to pose this question to our school community at large by hanging our art in our communal hallway. Consider yourself reminded!"
-Carrie Morgan
4TH-5TH GRADE GROUP ENTRIES
WINNER
School: Marin Christian Academy, Fifth Grade
Teacher: Yvonne Bruner
Project: Recycled Color Wheel
"In this art project for my 5th grade art students, we worked on creating a color wheel from mostly recycling and trash that students had collected in their homes. We also would walk the playground of our school looking for pieces that would suit the color wheel. We had about three weeks to collect, which would be 6 art sessions. We divided the students up by colors on the wheel and those students were in charge of assembling the pieces by color.
The students really got involved with this project. They not only were looking but they had their families bringing things in and adopted help from teachers in other grades which really got the kids excited about this collaborative project. We can say with confidence that our school is on Target with recycling!
The only store bought items were the cardboard background and the hot glue we used to attach the items. Also, the kids made some signs with our inspirational sayings the kids came up with:
“Don’t throw away your things think about their uses.”
“Stay on target and Recycle!”
The students wanted to communicate how trash/recycling can be beautiful if you think about how to reuse it. I think that comes through well to whomever may look at it! I hope you enjoy looking at the photos of our project being assembled in action!"
-Yvonne Bruner
Runner Up
School: Coleman Elementary, Fifth Grade
Teacher: Amanda Fin
Project: Newspaper Sculpture
"This is 5th-grade collaborative project began with newspapers that the local library was discarding. We estimated how many libraries are in the area and how much newspaper each one discards each month. We also spoke about how most news is now digital, but also how libraries create communities, but what could we do with then newspaper?
After experimenting with different ways the newspapers could be transformed, using nothing but masking tape and scissors. Then the students looked at artists that upcycle commonly recycled materials or trash to create sculptures.
We read about Buckminster Fuller's terms Spaceship Earth: a worldview expressing concern about the limited resources on earth and encouraging everyone to act together to create a greater good. With this in mind, and looking at images of geodesic domes and more recycled art sculpture, the students created individual structures in 6 groups and then worked together to put them together. They worked to create a self-standing sculpture harmoniously utilizing each contribution.
The students were resilient and overcame challenges on working together to create a common goal, transforming the newspapers and becoming aware of the amount of trash produced at their school and community."
-Amanda Fin
2nd-3rd Grade Individual Projects
Winner
Student: Jack B.
Grade: 2nd
School: Gate Academy
Teacher: Sarah Ratto
"The student artists chose partners and each identified a key problem for the other student to solve. They then used Design Thinking strategies:
- Empathize
- Define
- Ideate
- Prototype
- Test
to design and build a solution to their partners’ problem. Using all recycled materials, the students took two weeks to build and present their prototype invention. Creations included a machine that would find lost socks, a machine with many hands that could clean toys off of a bedroom floor, and many other creative solutions to a six or seven-year olds’ problem.
Reusing cardboard, glass, string, paper and aluminum, the students worked together to solve problems by creating unique pieces of art representing machine prototypes. All materials were sourced from student homes, leading many to a first realization of how much waste their homes produce and creative ways that waste can both be avoided and turned into something artistic and useful!"
-Sarah Ratto
Runner Up
Student: Alan
Grade: 2nd
School: Gate Academy
Teacher: Sarah Ratto
Honorable Mention
Student: Ryder
Grade: 2nd
School: Gate Academy
Teacher: Sarah Ratto
Other Submissions From Sarah Ratto's Class:
4th-5th Individual Projects
Winner
Student: Jude B
Grade: Fifth
Teacher: Julia McKee
School: The Cove School
"For the Recycled Art Competition, fifth graders created collagraph printmaking plates made with recycled items as well as glue, scissors and printmaking ink. Students gathered recycled items from their home and school to use in their works of art. We collected many items including: cardboard from art orders, strawberry baskets, bits of ribbons, beads, bits of foam, yarn, plastic bags, brown bags, paper, netting from fruit and many other items.
Students were shown images of successful collagraphs and prints and we discussed what worked and what didn’t. We also discussed how to create thoughtful compositions even when creating abstract works of art. Students were then given recycled cardboard to use as their base as well as various recycled items, glue and scissors and were given the option of abstract or realistic and then they were able to create anything that interested them.
Unfortunately the end of this project was thrown off a bit and we ran out of class time to print before the deadline, so I offered students the chance to come in and print their plates during lunch. Five fifth grade boys took me up on the offer and we spent lunch time in the art room experimenting with printing our collagraphs in different ink colors and testing out layering techniques. We had an awesome time and connected over how surprising printmaking can be when you use something you maybe would have thrown away but instead used it to create something new."
-Julia McKee
Runner Up
Student: Sawyer G.
Grade: Fifth
Teacher: Julia McKee
School: The Cove School
Other Submissions from Julia McKee's Class:
Honorable Mention
Student: Izaiah R.
Grade: Fourth
Teacher: Yvonne Bruner
School: Marin Christian Academy
"My 4th grade art students worked on creating wonderful animals from materials that were donated to our art room. The materials included; old gift bags, wrapping materials, tissue paper, boxes, cellophane, ribbon, string, old cd's and items that would have been thrown in the garbage. I had three art sessions with them. The directions were; to create an animal from these materials. The art piece could be a 2 dimensional or 3 dimensional sculpture and they could cut, fold, tape and glue. There was cardboard available if they needed a foundation.
The students wanted to convey their love for animals and importance of protecting them on our planet. They discussed ways which garbage could harm animals on the beach or in the ocean if they were to eat it or get caught up in it. They talked about even forest animals could be harmed in people's trash not disposed of correctly. They began creating animals they loved from trash that would of went in a land fill or in the recycling bin.
The students enjoyed turning trash into treasure! They inspired, encouraged and cheered each other on to creating one of a kind animals. This project has been our favorite art project so far this year!"
-Yvonne Bruner
Other Submissions from Yvonne Bruner's Class:
Other Outstanding Entrants
Teacher: Chelsea McNally
School: Saint Raphael School
Grades: 2nd-3rd
"The students at St. Raphael School in 3rd grade were given a variety of recycled items. The students had to brainstorm and give a blue print to what their project would be made out of and how it would come together. We had previously discussed recycled items and why it is important to reuse items to create new things! The students were able to use their imaginations and create something that interested them. At the end of the project, the students were asked to show their project and how they created it."
-Chelsea McNally
Teacher: Aileen Stoddard
School: Saint Raphael School
Grade: Second
"The theme of our project was recycled rhythm. Each student used recycled materials to create different instruments. We used toilet paper rolls, old pasta, shoe boxes, chopsticks, plastic bottles, and rubber bands. We created some wind, percussion, and string instruments. As part of our final project we performed a quick beat all together as a class."
-Aileen Stoddard
Teacher: Lulu Monti
School: Strawberry Point Elementary
Grade: Fourth
Project Description (from the kids):
Jedi (pictured on left):
My armor is themed as a soldier’s armor. The materials I used were cardboard and duct tape. It has my initials on the front of it on a shield around it. My armor also has a axe and sword holder so that I don’t have to hold it while I’m wearing the armor. I carry a shield so that I could protect myself from being hit by other swords or axes. My helmet has no top but I can turn it upside down so that it can be a crown instead of a helmet.
Tyler (pictured on right):
My creation is homemade cardboard armor. It fits an 8-11 year old kid. It comes with a sword, shield, a chestplate, claws and a helmet. Themed to be a Roman warrior, it is nice and sturdy. It stands up to wind, rain, and snow. It was easy to make out of pizza boxes, a good pair of scissors and duct tape. Fun for kids but you can build your own armor even if your 60 years old you can make your own! ( PS. I suggest using bigger pieces of cardboard the older you are).
Vaughn M.- “Cardboard Knight”
This is my cardboard knight. He is the ruler of the volcanical people. He killed the dark lord with a sword that he had set on fire. He also killed a Draco dragon they were said to be extinct he made them extinct with a dagger bought it was shot by lightning and broken. He also was attacked by a troll it had three jewels he took it and put them on his crown.
Sara K.- “Fashion”
This dress is recycled. It is made of white garbage bags and duct tape and wrapping paper that is already used but cleaned. Made from:
- White garbage bag
- Assorted color duct tape
- Wrapping paper
River G.- “Roman Armor”
I made my armor and weapons out of cardboard and duct tape. I made a shield, sword, axe, and knife. The theme was Roman stuff. There is a spot on the side of the shield that doesn’t get hit where I can put my axe, it’s there so if my sword is taken in battle, then I can get my axe out and keep fighting. My knife is there so if my axe is ALSO taken in battle, then I can keep fighting. It’s basically three lives. No helmet because it’s too bulky, and I can’t move as fast as I can without a helmet when I have it on.