Toy Totem is 9 feet tall, constructed from plastic toys, plant holders, styrofoam and a xmas tree stand.
Art can spark both thoughts and feelings, while science mainly relies on understanding facts. Art about plastic pollution adds a visual and emotional layer to scientific facts, encouraging conversations that raise environmental awareness.
See
Gravening's Monuments of Trash Art Project (MoTAP) work intended to raise awareness of plastic pollution. MoTAP includes sculptures and paintings that can be transformed into recycling bins, collages, and reusable jars. Check out Gravening's pieces and the works of others who send strong messages by creating art with trash.
Plastic Obelisk-Tanya Gravening
This sculpture was created by Gravening with the plastic sourced by herself and 13 friends over a three month period. Neither she or her friends knew exactly what she would make with the plastic loot.
Gravening chose to create a Totem and an Obelisk as part of her plastic pollution art project because these structures are rich in symbolism and can convey powerful messages.
Totems are traditionally used to tell stories, represent cultural beliefs, and connect communities with their heritage. By using a Totem, Gravening is aiming to narrate the ongoing story of plastic pollution and its impact on our environment and communities, encouraging viewers to reflect on their relationship with nature and plastic.
I created a Totem Pole because they tell stories, which was playful to do with all the toys. I didn't anticipate viewers' connections to all the pieces of plastic that make up the monuments, Toy Totem in particular takes people down memory lane. -Gravening
Obelisks, on the other hand, are often seen as monuments that commemorate significant events or achievements. By creating an Obelisk from plastic waste, Gravening is highlighting the monumental scale of the plastic pollution problem and urging viewers to recognize it as a critical issue that requires collective action.
The obelisk measures twice as tall as a 6 ft human
These structures, with their historical and cultural significance, serve as compelling visual statements that can engage audiences and provoke thought about the importance of addressing plastic pollution.
The Mexi-Minne Marlin-Tanya Gravening
9x12 inches, collage made plastic trash, 2010
The Mexi-Minne Marlin is made from plastic trash I collected on the beach in Tulum, Mexico—including the syringe. The yellow and orange plastic trash is from my home in Minneapolis. Plastic trash from Minneapolis can reach Mexico via the Mississippi River. -Gravening
Miss Understood and Mr Meanor - Tim Noble and Sue Webster
This British artist duo are renowned for their innovative approach to art, where they transform trash and everyday debris into thought-provoking shadow sculptures. Their work is a fascinating blend of chaos and order, as they meticulously arrange piles of discarded materials in such a way that, when lit from a specific angle, they cast intricate and often surprising shadow images on the wall.
Dirty White Trash
Noble and Webster's work has been exhibited internationally, and they are celebrated for pushing the boundaries of traditional sculpture. This approach not only makes a statement about consumerism and waste but also invites viewers to reconsider the potential of materials often deemed worthless.
“Gravity and Grace” - El Anasui
“Gravity and Grace” (2010), a thirty-seven-foot sheet of more than ten thousand liquor-bottle tops joined with copper wire. Anatsui’s works are often draped and folded, but this one was flat, and it shone like a dragon’s hide stretched on an invisible rack. (New Yorker)
Detail
Photo: Nash Baker
Ghanaian sculptor is redefining Africa’s place in the global art scene.
El Anatsui's incredible journey to success began with discarded materials—metal bottle seals and caps from African alcohol bottles. Transforming these into monumental installations, Anatsui crushes the bottle caps into circles, cuts them into strips, and intricately stitches them together with copper wire. The result is a sublime, shimmering effect that evokes the appearance of fabric rather than metal. His work draws inspiration from traditional West African textiles, such as Kente cloth, creating intricate patterns and compositions that captivate and inspire.
Reflections - Rob Petit
image courtesy of Rob Pettit
Pettit’s art installations have been created by arranging old cell phones into giant shapes, as geometrically perfect as they are spellbinding. Pettit says: “I have collected over 5,000 mobile phones and made work from them in various mediums: several large floor sculptures, light pieces, sound and drawings made up from over 40,000 tiny ink hand-drawn cell phones.” (Recycle Nation)
Say
The urgency of the plastic pollution crisis requires art that summons an audience to pay attention. To engage an audience, I recruited friends and neighbors to collaborate in the process of gathering materials to create art. This exercise was intended to increase awareness of how much plastic we use in a single day and create a memorable experience. - Gravening
In what ways does Gravening's, Monuments of Trash Art Project challenge traditional notions of art and value, and how do you see it influencing future art practices?
How do you envision Gravening's Monuments contributing to broader environmental awareness and change, both locally and globally?
What role does collaboration play in the Monuments of Trash Art Project, and how do you involve different stakeholders in the creative process?
Do
Monuments of Trash Art Project [MoTAP] is art to raise awareness of plastic pollution and offer humble solutions.
Make a list of things you can personally do to reduce the use of plastic. Gravening gets you started by suggesting that you:
BYOB: bring your own bag.
Carry a reusable water bottle [put a See Life sticker on it].
Avoid single use plastic straws.
Get involved with an organization that is working to reduce plastic pollution.
Plastic Pollution Coalition: A global alliance working towards a world free of plastic pollution through education, advocacy, and collaboration.
Ocean Conservancy: This organization focuses on protecting the ocean from the impacts of plastic pollution through science-based solutions and policy advocacy.
The 5 Gyres Institute: Conducts research and educates the public on plastic pollution, advocating for systemic change to reduce plastic waste.
Surfrider Foundation: A grassroots organization committed to protecting oceans and beaches, including efforts to reduce plastic pollution through community engagement and policy initiatives.
Greenpeace: An environmental organization that campaigns against plastic pollution by advocating for corporate responsibility and policy changes.
Algalita Marine Research and Education: Focuses on research and education to inspire action against plastic pollution, particularly in marine environments.
The Plastic Bank: A social enterprise that empowers communities to collect and trade plastic waste for goods and services, turning plastic into a valuable resource.
Loving the Weekly Wonder?
Please forward it to a friend, or buy me a coffee to say thanks! Oatmilk flat white :)
Are you interested in taking a class or sending your child to summer camp with me? I am collaborating with the amazing Maddie Johnson, LMFT, ATR to make Heart Space Studio your go-to neighborhood art studio and well-being venue!
I studied painting and printmaking at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Following college, I worked as a graphic designer in the newly emerging grande format printing industry. In 2009, I began a graduate program at the University of Minnesota, focusing on Modern and Contemporary art history, participatory art and exhibitions, art for social justice, and curating art outside museums and galleries. My graduate thesis, The Art of Plastic Pollution, was published by LapLambert.
Physics, travel, scuba diving, and stewardship of the planet are some things that inspire my art.
Lionfish, 4" x 4" Sticker
Tanya is dedicated to creating large-scale oil paintings of life sized sea life, aiming to highlight their beauty and raise awareness about their importance. By purchasing a "See Life" sticker, you can contribute to this cause and help inspire change.
Female Artists Continue to Shape History Janet Echelman, (born in Tampa, FL,1966) Janet Echelman, Bending Arc When she began planning Bending Arc, she drew on her love of Florida’s nature and beaches and came from an emotional place of fun and leisure. She made patterns based on striped umbrellas from old postcards she’d studied and the barnacles that cling to the Pier. (Tampa Bay Times) 1.8 1.8 is closing this May at the Renwick Gallery. This is the final chance to see the beloved...
Cassatt's Charm and Power Young Lady in a Loge* Gazing Right, 1878-9 This painting, originally owned by Paul Gaugin, sold at auction for $7.4 million in 2022. “Mlle Cassatt has as much charm, but she has more power” than the other female artists of our time. -Paul Gauguin Mary Cassatt was an American painter and printmaker, who boldly rebelled against the expectations set for her as a woman in the 19th century and traveled to Europe to find her independence as a professional artist. She made...
Artemesia the Survivor Thriver Self Portrait as the Allegory of Painting, 1638-39, Royal Collection Trust See This week we will dive into the life and work of Artemesia Gentileschi, the Revolutionary Baroque Master. Overcoming obstacles, like many modern women, Gentileschi was a powerhouse in the artworld and the world world. Using her paintings to portray women as strong and self-reliant, Artemisia's legacy reminds us that art can be a powerful tool for voice, vision, and victory over...
