Tre lektioner på Nation School of the Arts
Questions to the NSA
- Can I assume that learners have access to the mobile camera / digital camera? - Are there printing possibilities in the NSA?
- Can I assume that learners have access to the mobile camera / digital camera? - Are there printing possibilities in the NSA?
before:
Learners are asked to bring a bag filled with waste materials to the first lesson. Paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, metal, etc ... The garbage should be clean, so they must make sure to rinse/ wash them properly!
lesson 1
Learners start by structuring the waste they brought with them, sort it into piles based on criterias that they will set up within the group. I show pictures of various objects which are made from recycled materials. We look at similarities and differences and have a brief discussion of rubbish and materials.
(For example: How do we define garbage? What is the difference between trash and materials?) I divide the learners into groups of three and assign each group a pile of materials/ waste. They are then given the task to plan and construct a functional object out of their material. What is left of the first lesson they spend to plan, sketch and perhaps begin to build the object.
To the next lesson they should take pictures of objects made out of in recycled/ reused materials that they see in their surroundings. They may also bring more building material if the group concluded that they need it.
(For example: How do we define garbage? What is the difference between trash and materials?) I divide the learners into groups of three and assign each group a pile of materials/ waste. They are then given the task to plan and construct a functional object out of their material. What is left of the first lesson they spend to plan, sketch and perhaps begin to build the object.
To the next lesson they should take pictures of objects made out of in recycled/ reused materials that they see in their surroundings. They may also bring more building material if the group concluded that they need it.
lesson 2
The images of found objects are handed in digitaly at the beginning of class. Learners continue to work on their objects.
lesson 3
Students finish their objects, clean up and set up their work on one of the tables. We gather around the work and reflect on the process, result and development potential of the objects. We talk about concerns relating to recycling design: sustainability, aesthetics, meaningfulness.
Re-use / recycle
As a part of my research about recycle and re-use design I would like you to do a functional/useful object out of so-called waste.
When do materials become waste? And how can we turn the waste back into materials?
In South Africa you have a huge tradition of craft that uses discarded materials. That also implies specific aesthetics.
What do you think about that? And about the division of objects into ”art”, ”craft” and ”design”?
Schedule:
Thursday morning: Presentation of my project.
Organisation of the materials.
Sketching and planning of objects.
Starting to build.
Thursday afternoon: Building
Friday morning: Building, finishing.
Presenting your work
Think about:
What does this material ”want” to become? What is suitable to do in this material? How will you work it? Glue, sew, nail, weave…?
Things to Google:
Heath Nash, Imbali project (shop at Museum Africa), www.ernesto-garcia.com, www.magpiehomefineware.co.za, www.nokak.com, www.supercyclers.com, www.keag.org.za, and much much more... and you are also welcome to have a look at some nice pictures on my project blog www.johannesburg2011.blogspot.com – the texts are in Swedish :)
