Recycled TreesRecycled Trees

Joan MaceJoan Mace

Laurie MuraLaurie Mura

PurposePurpose

To be an integral part of eco week on the To be an integral part of eco week on the CSULB campus.CSULB campus.

Convince the CSULB students and faculty that Convince the CSULB students and faculty that recycling is essential for the preservation of recycling is essential for the preservation of the environment.the environment.

Encourage the viewer to critically question Encourage the viewer to critically question how specific aspects of our trees are pointing how specific aspects of our trees are pointing toward a larger goal of energy conservation toward a larger goal of energy conservation through symbolism and conceptual elements.through symbolism and conceptual elements.

But what can art do?But what can art do?

FunctionsFunctions

Imitate nature for the purpose of illustrating its Imitate nature for the purpose of illustrating its essential qualities of beauty essential qualities of beauty

Ex. Ancient Greek and High RenaissanceEx. Ancient Greek and High Renaissance

Functions cont.Functions cont.

Art has the ability to instigate social and Art has the ability to instigate social and political change.political change.

Artists use strategies that are sensorial (senses Artists use strategies that are sensorial (senses the viewer uses to experience the art) and the viewer uses to experience the art) and conceptual (idea based) or both. conceptual (idea based) or both.

SENSORIALSENSORIAL

ConceptualConceptual

Sensorial and ConceptualSensorial and Conceptual

What is our Recycled Tree?What is our Recycled Tree?

Sensorial?Sensorial? Conceptual?Conceptual? Both?Both? Neither?Neither?

It is subjectiveIt is subjective

But we are going to argue…But we are going to argue…

Both!Both!

Why is it sensorial and conceptual?Why is it sensorial and conceptual?

The viewer interacts with the trees visually The viewer interacts with the trees visually and spatially. and spatially.

The visual and interactive elements of the trees The visual and interactive elements of the trees suggest a conceptual messagesuggest a conceptual message

Sensorial equals ConceptualSensorial equals Conceptual

The art project takes the form of Christmas The art project takes the form of Christmas Trees which usually signifies a time for Trees which usually signifies a time for celebrationcelebration

Our trees signify a disapproval of the Our trees signify a disapproval of the destruction of millions of trees by not destruction of millions of trees by not embracing the celebratory nature of Christmasembracing the celebratory nature of Christmas

The trees are small, bent, fragile, fake, sharp, The trees are small, bent, fragile, fake, sharp, dirty, and isolated (none of these words are dirty, and isolated (none of these words are associated with the holiday).associated with the holiday).

Other sensorial qualities that equal Other sensorial qualities that equal ConceptualConceptual

The trees were made of two The trees were made of two months worth of reused months worth of reused cans, Christmas tree trunks, cans, Christmas tree trunks, and some old rusty nails.and some old rusty nails.

We used renewable We used renewable materials to save energy.materials to save energy.

We made the leaves arrow-We made the leaves arrow-shaped to symbolize the shaped to symbolize the recycle sign and to promote recycle sign and to promote reusing and recycling reusing and recycling

But are we really recycling?But are we really recycling?

Yes!!!!!!Yes!!!!!! At first we reused the materials and then after the At first we reused the materials and then after the

project was finished we recycled our aluminum and project was finished we recycled our aluminum and our tree trunksour tree trunks

Benefits of Recycling CansBenefits of Recycling Cans

Aluminum is a Aluminum is a sustainable metal and sustainable metal and can be recycled can be recycled repeatedly. repeatedly.

In 2003, 54 billion cans In 2003, 54 billion cans were recycled, saving were recycled, saving the energy equivalent of the energy equivalent of 15 million barrels of 15 million barrels of crude oil — America’s crude oil — America’s entire gas consumption entire gas consumption for one day. for one day.

http://earth911.org/recycling/aluminum-can-recycling/benefits-of-aluminum-can-recycling/

Sensorial elements equals conceptual Sensorial elements equals conceptual ideas again!!!!!!ideas again!!!!!!

The trees were placed on the side walk near FA4 (a high The trees were placed on the side walk near FA4 (a high traffic area) to disrupt the walking path of the students.traffic area) to disrupt the walking path of the students.

The tree are invading the students’ environment in the same The tree are invading the students’ environment in the same way that humans are invading and destroying the forest way that humans are invading and destroying the forest environment.environment.

Our inspiration…Our inspiration…

Direct InfluenceDirect Influence

Will it have an impact?Will it have an impact?

Our hope is that if we can show people that we can Our hope is that if we can show people that we can recycle through an art project then everyone should recycle through an art project then everyone should be able to find ways to recycle in their everyday life. be able to find ways to recycle in their everyday life.

We also placed a mission statement next to our trees We also placed a mission statement next to our trees highlighting our goals.highlighting our goals.

Our hope was to encourage students, especially art Our hope was to encourage students, especially art majors who tend to fear the sciences, to take this majors who tend to fear the sciences, to take this class. The idea of learning energy through art will class. The idea of learning energy through art will encourage them to venture into “scary” engineering encourage them to venture into “scary” engineering territory.territory.