Fans of the Junk Art Club at Eliot-Hine Middle School will be pleased to know that the pandemic has not prevented them from staging another show at Hill Center. The theme of Climate Change is even more relevant and resonant than when the artists began their work in the fall of 2019.
As with the club’s first two shows, the work speaks to the effect of human activity on the environment. Each piece is designed to convey the serious environmental impacts of climate change, or to show hope that climate change can be slowed or reversed. For materials, the students relied on recycling a diverse array of discarded items. A broken mirror, plastic detergent bottle, wooden bed slats and used tea bags were all pressed into service.
This presented an opportunity for learning as well as self-expression. One student reported that she “didn’t think climate change was really that big of a deal” until she started researching it for this project. Most were unfamiliar with the work of Greta Thunberg, an internationally known Swedish environmental activist only a few years older than they are. Now that they are more aware of the seriousness of the issue, they want to share their concern with others.
While the general public won’t be able to enjoy it in person, we’re pleased to open this virtual gallery. Click on the individual projects below to learn more.
