DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 399 131 SE 056 844

AUTHOR Vatsky, SharonTITLE Fragile Ecologies: Contemporary Artists'

Interpretations and Solutions. Adventures inEcological Art for Kids and Families.

INSTITUTION Queens Museum of Art, Queens, NY.; SmithsonianInstitution, Washington, D.C.

SPONS AGENCY New York State Council on the Arts, New York.;Rockefeller Foundation, New York, N.Y.

PUB DATE 92

NOTE 16p.; Funding also received from the Nathan CummingsFoundation. Printed in colored ink on coloredpaper.

PUB TYPE Guides Non-Classroom Use (055) ReportsDescriptive (141)

EDRS PRICE MFO1 /PCO1 Plus Postage.DESCRIPTORS *Artists; *Creative Art; Elementary Secondary

Education; *Environmental Education; ExhibitsIDENTIFIERS *Environmental Action; *Environmental Awareness

ABSTRACTThis booklet shows how every individual can do

something positive for the environment by making art that makes adifference. Themes from the Fragile Ecologies exhibition have beenused as seeds for creative environmental projects that can be doneeither individually or working in groups. Artists whose work isfeatured include Patricia Johanson, Helen Mayer Harrison and NewtonHarrison, Betty Beaumont, Alan Sonfist, Nancy Holt, Mel Chin, BusterSimpson, Heather McGill and John Roloff, Mierie Laderman Ukeles, andCheri Gaulke. Contains 12 references. (JRH)

***********************************************************************

Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be madefrom the original document.

***********************************************************************

Adventures iix Ec logifor Kids and Fain ie

fragilecol gies

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONOffice of Educational Research and Improvement

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATIONCENTER (ERIC)

This document has been reproduced asawed from the person or organization

originating it0 Minor changes have been made to Improve

reproduction quality.

Points of view or opinions statecl in t his dOCu-ment do not necessarily represent officialOERI position or policy.

BEST COPY AVAILABLE 2

How YouCan Make aDifferencefor theEnvironment

If you've always thought of artists as people who make paintings orsculptures you're in for a surprise. Some artists ere focusing on envi-ronmental problems like water pollution, air pollution, endangeredspecies, and toxic waste. "The earth is their canvas and their philoso-phy is, it's dirtylet's clean it up.'"

This booklet shows how you can do something positive for the envi-ronmentand yourselfby making art that makes a difference. Here'show.

We've used the themes from the exhibition Fragile Ecologies as'seeds' for creative environmental projects for your town, your neigh-borhood, even your backyard. Some of these projects you can do onyour own; for others you may enjoy working with friends, family, orclassmates. We hope to get you thinking about the environment andways we can all work together to make it better.

In reading, if you are not familiar with the words in italic letters, justflip to the glossary at the end. And if you're hungry for moreprojectsor just more informationcheck the list of books we'vesupplied.

Rememberthe only limit is your imagination!

Sharon Vatsky, Curator of Education, Queens Museum of Artand the Fragile Ecologies exhibition team

Patricia Johanson, Leonhardt Lagoon (Dallas,Texas), 1981-86 (illus. based on photograph)

I

I I 1

' I I

Habitat Patricia Johanson was one of theGardens first artists to think of art as a

way to help restore habitats."When I was a child," she says, "italways made me want to cry 1

When people cut down trees anddestroyed the landscape in orderto build a ,new road or house ..Today I design sculptures that areuseful to both people and wild-life." By transforming pollutedareas into, ecologically balancedparkssome with plant-shapedwalkwaysJohanson encouragespeople to experience a connectionbetween art and nature.

4

Small WorldYou can design a miniature habi-tat, known as a terrarium, in aglass jar, a goldfish bowl, or even alarge plastic soda bottle that hasbeen cut jn half and taped backtogether after planting. Stones,twigs, sea shells, small plants, andmoNses can all be part of yourhabitat.

Snake ShapesIn California, Patricia Johansondesigned a sculptural nature trailin the shape of a San Franciscogarter snake, currently listed as anendangered species. Choose ananimal or plant and create a gar-den that uses its shape as part ofyour design.

APPrwqs"e11-'r

water iitin;thooceenzi,nnothet 2% :le; tee4

that

4

tt;i):614, Of14

',the ancientt Onkel,

:4tii,t01-1(110414*

tn'Aleska reunite'

k

One square mile ofthe settles forestis cut down,burned, or bull-dozed every fiveminutes.

4 4

Ocean Betty Beaumont has createdLandmark several works that deal with the

environmental problems inoceans. Beaumont's fascinationwith the sea be'gan when she was

'an underwater photographer anddiver. It inspired her to, design anunusual ocean habitatan under-water reef made from blocks ofrecycled coal ash. Although mostpeople cannot:see her creation,because it is submerged off thecoast of Long Island, she has

Kids Against Pollution underwater photographs showingBetty lieatrmont's projects demon- thai fish and plants thrive there..orate that teamwork cambe moreeffective than working alone: to buildher reef, she enlisted the help ofscuba divers, oceanographers, andengineers. In 1987 a group of NewJersey students formed Kids AgainstPollution to help solve environmentalproblems. Now there are hundreds ofKAP chapters around the countryfighting pollution in their communi-ti,vs. To find out about starting achapter in your school. contact::KidsAgainst Pollution, Tenakill School,275 High St., (foster, N,1 071i24; (201)781-0668.

(

re- ve

11c11, I:emu-1101ft. (lrptiir f l itiH( ) 11111

1,, -cij 1,11 phlrh);,,;11111.

TimeLandscapes

I I

I 11

Alan Sonfist's art reminds us ofhow the land looked beforepeople began building, mining,and farming. He researches andreplants native trees and vegeta-tion that once thrived wherecities now stand. These "TimeLandscapes" are based on theidea that nature deserves monu-ments just as much as historicevents and heroes do.

a

Monument to NatureDraw a plan for your own monu-ment. to nature, keeping thesequestions in mind:What would your monument bemade of? /Whit shape would it haVe?Where would you place it?Would it have an inscription?

Spring Be-LeafTry growing your own tree. Gatherthe seeds in the fall and plant adifferent tree seed in each flower-pot. Water the flowerpots regularly.In the spring the baby trees shouldbe planted outside once they are 4to 5 inches high.

1Alan Sonfist, Time Landscape, conceived 1960s;planted 1978 (illus. based on site plan)

2g

OE

Alan Sonfist, Time Landscape (GreenwichVillage, New York), planted 1978 (illus. basedon phot6graph)

-, ' li...v- -,

i-,

-----<4 -7:11,''''

i 11, 1:1,-Z, cf' 47 '421-.47L11''''

! I // //'? 4( 4T1-7---- :1---.1

:

II

---c"rief`,I.' --../ f,----..,,1,--'As11.tr,s,.--, ,

IA 47 ,. 'T4

I

Nancy Holt, 'Sky .

Mound Rendering,1985 (illus. based ondrawing)

If you've ever stared in wonder atthe stars or watched the sky turncolors at sunset, then you knowsome of the same feelings thatinspire artist Nancy Holt.

Holt's current project"SkyMound," in Hackensack, NewJerseywill transform an entirelandfill into a public park andobservatory. In creating "SkyMound" Holt will give people aplace to look at and think aboutthe sky, the stars, and nature.

Night SightsWhat is the best place you know ofto look at the stars or watch thesunset? Hoiv does looking at thestars make you feel? Why doesNancy Holt think it's important forus to remember how the sun, moon,stars, and seasons affect us?

People have always looked at thenight sky and imagined that thestars formed the shapes of peopleand animals. Next time you look atthe stars, try inventing your ownconstellations. Give a name to eachone, draw it; and write a storyabout it.

Private PlanetariumYou can make your own privatePlanetarium. Find an empty card-board oatmeal or circular, ice creamcontainer. Carefully poke holes in,the bottom in the shape of a realor imagined constellation. Indarkened room shine a flashlightup inside the carton and point ittoward the ceiling. An instantstarry sky!

Revival field Mel Chin k helpirp tow.mte by growing npecJal

plants r.zilied b?pernix:rmurfatorsilftvt hoJy7y 'mewls in the

throuqft their roots andstems. Chin believes that theseplants can he an important help in.cleassirso polluted sand. Theimportance of ifiorliversityanother theme in Chin's work'SIIMAIS hem plants may affect ourJ . in WOWS still inlICEMW41'. tu us.

Mel Chin, Revival Field, 1990 (illus..gf model).

Toxic ThirstPlace a stalk of Celery in a,g12AES ofwater that has-been tinted withfood coloring or ink, Wait a fewhours. What does this experimentsuggest about how plants canabsorb pollutants?

Drawn from NatureMel Chin has made careful dy...a.w--ings of the plants he uses in his -

work. Begin your own ecological.sketch book.. Include drawings ofplants, birds, leaves, seeds, insects',nests, animals. With, a bit of-prac-tice, your powers of observation,your knowledge of the env:iron .ment, and you,! drawing skills will.all improve.

9

Mel Chin, SLudy ofhybrid corn, hyper-accumulator for 1-levivalPeald, 9S0 (troc,i11-1,

ba.mcl drawn)

o I I

ft

,

6. I

II

I I. 4.

I I

It.

:

Prescription for EarthTo make his point, Buster Siinpson"uses his arttvork to compare theearth's condition with human'illness. Can you think of a globalpollution problem that parallels thefollowing human illne-sses?

HumanFeverIndigestionPoisoningAsthma

Global

Can you think of prescriptiops forthese illnesses that can help theearth get healthy again?

Acid BathYou can see the effects of acid rainfor yourself. You'll need similarhouseplants kept side by side sothey receive the same amount ofsunlight. Give them the sameamount of water, but add a fewteaspoons of lemon juice or vinegarto one's water supply. After twoweeks which plant appearshealthier?

Medicine,for Nature

In 1983 Buster Simpson beganplacing large, hand-carved discsof limestone weighing up to 50pounds in rivers across the coun-try. He calls this project "RiverRolaids" or "Turns for Nature"because he hopes the discs will belike medicine for rivers that havebeen damaged by acid rain.

As the discs dissolve, the limethey contain will help counteractthe acid and restore the water'snatural balance, but the discs alsoremind people that our rivers havebecome so sick that they need totake medicine.

Buster Simpson, River Rolaids or Turns for Nature, -1983-ongoing (illus. based on photograph)

=

04-isx.4-7-_,%-s,c-V72---. - ..-._,-:..f. erf-o.. , , IT'

-.... - -..,.."-',- .14:10

--"-4*-, - ....e. ir:.

-im.-.. - , --=,.-1,-"..-:--' ''.-..---,...P7 . r 1,

'-'

.r..' ''. I . 11 L.- % . '.-44 .. .._ r .-4

--- ---- .-- ).-

_ - - -.5 ,. :::---

11 a I

Homefor theHumming-birds

a:. 'I

r2

Heather McGill and John Roloffhave Worked together to createsculptures that attract humming-birds. They natnnti their uvork

"Isla de Umunntort''after theOhlone Italian words meaninghid of the littrnminghirds"-and

huilt their sculpture in the.shaoeOf a Native American mound. 't toattract tiumrainutiirds McGill andPoInflittcurrioratod honeysuckle,poppies, vines, and other plants'7,:it huvimingbirds like to, eat.

I 11

I

1 I

Food for FlyingYou can make-your own artisticbird feeder from wood, old milkcartons, onion bags, and/or plasticcoutainets. Add seeds, unsaltednuts, fruit, peanut butter, andcooking grease. Birds also likekitchen scraps inctudit:g stalecheese, bread, potatoes, doughnuts,even cooked. pasta Hang thetcede,- from a tree and oiatch thebirds enjoy your creation.

Backyard HabitatWith the loss of many naturalba.bitats, yards in cities and sub-urbs-jiave become'valuable minia-ture -wildlife preserves. Ti find outmore about creating a wildliferefuge in your backyard, contact:The Backyard Habitat Program,National Wildlife Federation, 14121.0th St., NM., Wasjiino,ton, DC20036; (202) 797.6300.

Flow City

Garbage KnapsackWant to see how much trash youmake in a day? Get a garbage bagand,every time you have somethingto throw away, put it in the bag.Carry the bag with you whereveryou go. At the end of the day you'llknow how much trash one personcan make.Try this experiment with your classand then sort out recyclable trash.You'll see how much recycling canreduce landfills.

Recycled ArtMany artists reuse discardedmaterials to make their art. Jew-elry, collages, craft projects, musi-cal instruments, masks, costumes,and found object sculpture can allbe made from recycled materials.

Talking TrashIn a performance she called "TouchSanitation," Ukeles shook hands,with every sanitation worker inNew York City to thank them-forthe important work they do. Simi-larly, you can interview mainte-nance workers at your school tofind out how much trash yourschool produces and how much ofit is recycled. Include the inter-view in your school newspaper.

Have you ever heard of an artistwho is inspired by garbage?Mier le Ladeiman Ukeles is thefirst artist to devote herself tothis unglamourous issue. In herwork, she reminds us that we areresponsible for our own garbageand that it is difficult to clean up .

the mess our society makes. Herinstallation "Flow City" is locatedin New York City's Department ofSanitation Marine Transfer Sta-tion, where trucks deliver garbagefor barging to a landfill on StatenIsland. "Flow City" shows visi-tors the huge amounts of garbagewe make and helps educatepeople about the need to recycle.

Each year Ameri-cans dispose of 7million automo-biles, 220 milliontires, 1.6 billionballpoint pens, and16 billion diapers.

Most familiesthrow away about88 pounds ofplastic a year.

12

River ofLearning

1

L.A. ,River Project" is an ecologi-cal artwork created by artist CheriGaulke, teacher Susan Boyle, andstudents from Wilson High Schoolin Los AngelesSusan Barron,Jose- Esquivel, Leonard Martinez,and Manuel Ortega. The studentsstudied and videotaped the LosAngeles River as a habitat forplants and animals, following theriver's flow through concretechannels as it 'becomes pollutedby garbage. The students alsointerviewed politicians and envi-ronmentalists, learning about thehistory of the river as they beganto think about its future.

.

1 0

13.

Adopt a PlotYou can adopt a portion of land (orwater) and make it nicer for every-one by picking up litter, by plant-ing flowers, bushes, or trees, andby being sure never to spill any-thing harmful on it.

Tales of Your Town .

Research the ecological changes inyour own neighborhood over theyears. Start by interviewing olderresidents,-then,visit your libraryand city hall, which will havedocuments ana photographs show-ing how new roads and buildingsaltered your local environment.

What was your community likefifty years ago? Had your school orhome been built yet? What wasyour community like-one knindredyears ago, five hundred years ago?

an you find out anything aboutwhat it will be like in the future?Are there plans for new develop-ment? How might this affect theenvironment in your neighbor-hood?

When you have gathered the infor-mation think about how you wouldlike to present it. A son.gposter,collage, diorama, videotape, play,mural, or poem are just a few'possibilities. You may be able to doyour presentation alone or youmay need. the help of other people.

Acid rain

Biodiversity

Endangeredspecies

Environment

Extinct species

Habitat

Heavy metals

Hyperaccumulators

Landfill

Lime

Pollution

Toxic

Wetlands

Glossary

Gases from coal-burning power-stations and factories' re making the ,

clouds more acidic. When it rains this acidity can damage trees, crops,lakes, and rivers.

The incredible complexity and variety of living things. Nature needsdiversity to keep the world healthy.

Animals and plants that have dwindled in number and are in danger ofbecoming extinct.

All the things around us including water, air, food, plants, and animals(the natural environment) and houses, factories, and roads (the builtenvironment).

Animals and plants that have died out and can no longer be found onearth.

A setting that provides the necessities of life for plants and animals.

Metals like 'cadmium, aluminum, and mercury that are found in pol-luted soil and are poisonous to plants, animals, and humans.

Special plants that may prove helpful in cleansing soil by absorbingtoxic metals through their roots.

Garbage from our homes is usually buried in the ground at disposalsites. We are making so much garbage that we are running out of roomto bury it.

A chemical poured into lakes to reduce their acid content.

Animals, people, and factories all produce waste. When there is toomuch waste or the waste contains poisons, it is known as pollution.

Poisonous.

Swamps, marshes, and other low, wet areas that often border rivers,lakes, and oceans. They provide habitats for many plants, birds, andanimals.

Your local library is a great sourceof information on art and ecology.Here are just a few of the booksyou can find there.

Acid Rain by John Baines, Steck-Vaugh & Co., Austin, Texas, 1990.

Garbage! Where It Comes From,Where It Goes by Evan and JanetHadingham, Simon and Shuster,New York, 1990.

Glow in the Dark Constellations: AField Guide for Young Stargazersby C.E. Thompson, Grosset &Dunlap, Inc., New York, 1989.

How Green Are You? by DavidBellamy, Clarkson Potter, Inc.,New York, 1991.

The Kids' Nature Book: 365 Iadoorl'Outdoor Activities and Experiencesby Susan Milford, WilliamsonPublishing, Charlotte, Vermont,1989.

Linnea's Windowsill Garden byChristina Bjork and Lena Ander-son, R & S Books, Stockholm andNew York, 1978.

The Lorax by Theodor Seuss Geisel(Dr. Seuss), Random House, NewYork, 1971 (also available in video).

My First-Green Book by AngelaWilkes. Alfred A. Knopf, New York,1991.

National Audubon Society's NorthAmerican Birdfeeder Handbook:The Complete Guide to Attracting,Feeding and Observing Birds inYour Yard by Robert Burton,Dor ling Kindersley, Inc., New York,1992.

Our Endangered Planet: Rivers andLakes by Mary Hoff and Mary M.Rodgers, Lerner Publications Co.,Minneapolis, 1991.

World About Us: Vanishing Habi-tats by Tony Hare, GloucesterPress, New York, 1991.

Organized by The Queens Museum of Art and developed for circulation by theSmithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.

Major funding for the exhibition has been received from The Rockefeller'Foundation andthe Nathan Cummings Foundation with additional support from the New,York StateCouncil on the Arts.

Exhibition team: Barbara Matilsky, Curator, and Sharon Vatsky, Curator of Education,The Queens Museum of Art; Crisley McCarson, Linda Karsteter, Andrea Stevens, andDavid Andrews, SITES; Mary Dillon Bird and Rosemary Regan, Office of ExhibitsCentral, Smithsonian Institution.

Brochtire text and illustrations by Sharon Vatsky.Brochure design by Harp and Company, Big Flats, New York.*Opening quotation from Art News, Summer 1991, p. 97.1 1992 Smithsonian Institution.

RecycledPaper

SourcesBaines, John. Acid Rain. Austin, Texas: Steck-Vaugh & Co., 1990.Bellamy, David. How Green Are You? New York: Clarkson Potter, Inc., 1991.Burton, Robert. National Audubon SocietPs North American Birdfeeder Handbook: The

Complete Guide to Attracting, Feeding and Observing Birds in Vour Yard.New York: Dorling Kindersley, Inc., 1992.

Donnelly, Judy and Kramer, Sydelle. Space Junk, Pollution Beyond the Earth.New York: Morrow Junior Books, 1990.

Elkington, John et al. Going Green: A Kids' Handbook to Saving the Ranet. New York:Viking Penguin Books. 1990.

Hoff, Mary and Rodgers, Mary M. Our Endangered Planet: Rivers and Lakes.Minneapolis: Lerner Publications Co., 1991.

Javna, John. 50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth. Kansas City and NewYOrk: Andrews and McNeel,.1990.

Middleton, Nick. Atlas of Environmental Issues. Oxford: Ilex Publishers, Ltd., 1989.Miles, Betty. Save the Earth: An Action Handbook for Kids. New York:

Alfred A. Knopf, 1991.Pearce, Fred. The Big Green Book. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, Inc., 1991.Rifkin, Jereiny. The Green Lifestyle Handbook. New York: Henry Holt. & Co., 1990:Skidmore, Steve. What a Loud of Trash. Brookfield, CT: The Millbrook Press, 1991.

(9/92)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONOffice of Educational Research and Improvement (0ERI)

Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)

NOTICE

REPRODUCTION BASIS

e

ERIC

This document is covered by a signed "Reproduction Release(Blanket)" form (on file within the ERIC system), encompassing allor classes of documents from its source organization and, therefore,does not require a "Specific Document" Release form.

This document is Federally-funded, or carries its own permission toreproduce, or is otherwise in the public domain and, therefore, maybe reproduced by ERIC without a signed Reproduction Releaseform (either "Specific Document" or "Blanket").