This semester, CultureWorks is helping teens consider environmental concerns in conversation with their artwork.
What does it look like to be environmentally responsible in your daily life? For artists this can be a difficult question to answer. Those working in physical mediums need materials like paints, canvas, clay or yarn, so reducing consumption isn’t always an option unless they also step back from their art. That’s why CultureWorks is offering two classes this semester that emphasize environmentalism; on Wednesdays and Thursdays after school, middle and high school students can attend Open Studio: Upcycled Art and Print for the Planet to learn more about the intersection of their creative pursuits and their commitment to a greener future.
Students in the upcycling class will get the opportunity to try many new mediums to make art from found or repurposed materials. Projects will range from collage using discarded magazines to revitalizing old clothes using indigo dye or embroidery. Foraged grasses, plastic bags and old textiles will become weaving materials, and broken glass bottles will become ceramic glaze. As students experiment around the studio, they’ll cultivate creativity about what pre-existing materials they can use to make beautiful art and reduce their consumption at the same time. CultureWorks loves highlighting artists from around the world who utilize natural materials in art and design, and this class will equip students with resourcefulness and problem solving skills that will benefit them across career fields as they move forward. After all, repurposing materials isn’t just a task for artists; it’s a staple for thrifty housekeeping and it’s an asset for any innovative business with a commitment to environmental responsibility.
For teens interested in bringing sustainability to a broader community, CultureWorks is offering Print for the Planet. Students will learn about screen printing, as well as how to convey their environmental concerns effectively through images and language. Art has often played a substantial role in social movements, and students will be invited to participate in that tradition by advocating through their posters. Dr. Leekyung Kang at Hope College will be teaching a parallel printmaking class, and at the end of the semester there will be a joint critique and show with students from both organizations. Posters will be on display in downtown Holland during the month of May, and proceeds from sales will be donated to environmental non-profits chosen by students.
Later this spring, CultureWorks and the Outdoor Discovery Center are teaming up to offer Radical Repair, a series of workshops teaching mending techniques to extend the life of your clothes and add personality in the process.
If you’re interested in art classes, you can still register at https://thecultureworks.ludus.com/index.php or call 616-377-8466. All teen classes are pay-what-you-can-afford and transportation is available for Holland Public and West Ottawa Public Schools.
**This article was submitted for the Holland Sentinel Sustainability Series, and was published by the Holland Sentinel February 25, 2024
