Inquiry Context and Questions:
The ‘big idea’ which has formed the inspiration for this project is that of ‘over consumption and overpopulation’, which are currently leading to concerning consequences in relation to issues such as: ‘resource depletion and waste disposal, climate change, extinction of species, and challenges to the integrity of ecosystems’ (Taylor, Quinn, & Eames 2015). Whilst these huge problems and challenges often feel overwhelming and beyond our control, research has demonstrated that through engagement with the creative arts, children can be encouraged to think more broadly about their environmental footprint and sustainability issues in general. In Girak, Lummis, and Johnson's (2012) study, children were encouraged to begin on a small scale by repurposing material that was destined for landfill and turning them into works of art. Their research concluded that through this creative process, students were inspired to develop a ‘greater awareness’ of their carbon footprints, and developed a more positive mindset towards engaging with environmental issues, despite their initial feelings of powerlessness in relation to such massive challenges (Girak, Lummis, & Johnson 2012, p. 381).
Whilst this project acknowledges that repurposed artwork alone cannot solve huge and complex societal problems relating to sustainability, it aims to inspire people to improve their current habits surrounding waste disposal, and hopes that through using art as a creative outlet it can also improve people’s mental wellbeing in the face of complex and seemingly overwhelming issues relating to the ongoing health of our planet. Through leading by example and demonstrating how we have reduced our waste I aim to inspire others to do the same. In particular, I aim to inspire the future leaders of our world, those who will bear most of the brunt of the environmental damage inflicted upon them by previous generations. Whilst primary school aged children should not be expected to solve problems that their own governments cannot, this project aims to serve as a catalyst for deeper inquiry. It provides students a necessary starting point, not a final destination.
Consequently, this project aims to lead by example through demonstrating how my household has repurposed scrap materials destined for landfill and transformed them into visually appealing artworks and aesthetically pleasing functional furniture. The Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority (ACARA) (2021) makes reference to the power of The Arts in EfS (Education for Sustainability) through pointing out that: “In this learning area, students use the exploratory and creative platform of 'The Arts' to advocate effective action for sustainability”. Through the process of repurposing scrap materials that were otherwise destined for landfill, students can be encouraged to think about inquiry questions such as:
1. How can I reduce my waste (e.g., how can I reduce, reuse, and recycle more effectively)?
2. What are the environmental consequences of generating too much waste?
3. What additional environmental issues are of importance to me and how can I express these through my (upcycled) artwork?
4. What role can I play personally in protecting the environment and contributing to a more sustainable world?
Whilst most of these questions can be investigated independently of the creation of artworks, I would encourage anyone reading this to engage with the questions through the tactile learning experience of creating sustainable art. The following pages aim to provide some inspiration and examples for how this could be achieved.
References:
Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority (ACARA) 2021, Sustainability > The Arts, The Australian Curriculum, retrieved 17 August 2021, www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/f-10-curriculum/cross-curriculum-priorities/sustainability/.
Girak, S, Lummis, GW & Johnson, J 2019, ‘Creative reuse: The impact artmaking has on raising environmental consciousness’, International Journal of Education through Art, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 369–385, retrieved 16 August 2021, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=asu&AN=138652470&authtype=sso&custid=deakin&site=eds-live&scope=site.
Taylor, N, Quinn, F & Eames, C 2015, 'Why do we need to teach education for sustainability at the primary level?', Sense Publishers, retrieved 15 August 2021, https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edselc&AN=edselc.2-52.0-84943384816&authtype=sso&custid=deakin&site=eds-live&scope=site.