[slideshow_deploy id=’36186′]
By: Erin Smith
Students at the Clarkton School of Discovery have been enjoying a week of learning about how to use recyclable materials to create art thanks to some assistance from visiting artist David Edgar.
Edgar of South Carolina is serving as Artist in Residence this week as CSD thanks in part of a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council.
While students are familiar with recycling and reusing products, Edgar brings a new idea to the students, using recyclable products as art.
Edgar and his wife have written a book called “Fantastic Recycled Plastic” that explores what one can use recyclable materials to do.
Edgar’s wife, Robin, has coined the term plastiquarium to describe the brightly colored fish he creates from plastic containers such as laundry detergent bottles and coffee containers.
“My work is marine themed,” said Edgar.
Some of his plastic creations include lobsters, tropical fish and other objects. Edgar said in deterring what animal or object a bottle might become, he said he studies the bottle and its color/colors and thinks about what he wants to do.
“We explore up-cycling as opposed to recycling. We are really repurposing something as mundane as packaging into art,” said Edgar.
He worked for 30 years in the fabricated steel industry and has also worked for Disney.
Edgar said the idea reall ybegna to take shape about 12 years ago when he and his wife were invited to a Super Bowl party where the Carolina Panthers were playing the New England Patriots. Edgar said he wanted to show his team spirit so he fashioned a Panthers mask using a plastic bottle.
He said after that, he began to upgrade his equipment and make more formative structures. Edgar said he has received a lot of support for his work from friends and neighbors.
Edgar said he tries to relate the impact to the environment that plastics have through is work.
“One of things I stress to students often is that plastics are made of oil,” said Edgar.
To learn more about Edgar and his work go to www.plastiquarium.com.
Share on Social Media using Short Link: https://bladencounty.org/?p=36191
About Author
