Archive for the 'Resources' Category

Story Of Stuff

Published
by
Antonio
on October 24, 2008
in Resources
. 0 Comments

If you haven’t done so already I really recommend watching the Story Of Stuff. Here’s what the Wikipedia entry has to say about it:

The Story of Stuff is a web-based documentary about the life-cycle of goods and services.

The documentary, released online on 4 December 2007, is narrated by Annie Leonard, who has an undergraduate degree from Barnard College and a graduate degree from Cornell University in city and regional planning. It is sponsored by Tides Foundation and The Funders Workgroup for Sustainable Production and Consumption, with Free Range Studios to produce the film.

I think this video succeeds in getting the message across about reducing, reusing and recycling materials not by ranting but by relating it to how consumerism affects us psychologically, personally and as a society. I think it’ll go some way to making us all think about the ’stuff’ that we accumulate. Here’s a video of it (though the one on the official website is better resolution)

Recycled Materials

Published
by
Antonio
on September 8, 2008
in Resources
. 0 Comments

One of the things about being a visual artist is the amount of materials you need to buy. Early in August I went to the Play Resource Centre and spent nearly £60 and all of the materials it bought are nearly used up! That’s when I got thinking about the things I buy on a regular basis that I can reuse and what I can recycle. That’s when I went hunting around the house!

The first thing I found was my hole punch. Although it takes a long time to accumulate very little I’m now collecting the circular pieces for confetti. Not bad for something I would’ve otherwise thrown away

Next I fount butter tubs and other similar tubs. These are absolutely awesome! I first thought about doing this when I used an old plastic container to put paint in. Now I use them for that and to take a small quantity of whatever I need to a workshop. I think this’ll replace using yoghurt pots as they’re more multi-purpose.

Something I did do at the beginning of the year is to save old wrapping paper. Although some of the paper is branded with ‘Merry Christmas’ and similar festive messages some of it can be used as decorative paper. I’ve already had success using it for this purpose many times!

Well, that’s just some of the things I’ve found that I can reuse. What else can anyone else suggest?

Play Resource Centre

Published
by
Antonio
on August 5, 2008
in Resources
. 0 Comments

Have you ever been to or assisted on a workshop and wonder where the lead artist gets their materials from? I think I have the answer: The Play Resource Centre. It’s a little bit out of the way in Ward End and you have to be a member, but it really is a great resource. Go there!