I saw a listing for a sculpture class and cheerfully signed up when I pictured the kinds of vases and bowl that I’d made at the Hui as a child. Soon I discovered that it was a contemporary sculpture class, and that my friend and I were supposed to make ‘art’ out of immense pieces of heavy, scratchy, fraying burlap. Something meaningful, that preferably didn’t resemble a potato sack. Throughout the course I discovered that my partner was extraordinarily allergic to burlap, making her almost unable to breathe and her entire body itch, that anytime I try to use an exacto knife, I inevitably nick myself, and that if you decide to hang giant burlap fish off trees within the height of middle-schoolers, they will stay on the trees for approximately 5 minutes. After our painted, stuffed, horendously ugly burlap school of fish was torn down by a couple gusts of upcountry wind and a few springy, jumpy little kids, I vowed never to attempt to make art again, and that I would have great respect for those who do. Using only recycled materials, the participants of Art of Trash create beautiful sculptures, clothing items, and unique art of every size and shape as a testament to the goal of the Great American Cleanup; to make a collective effort to take better care of our precious planet earth. Over the years, I’ve been amazed by life-size animals, cool, weird evening gowns, and abstract pieces made completely out of materials that would otherwise have been sent directly to the landfill. Check out the Art of Trash 2010 exhibit opening at Maui Mall on April 23rd (showing through May 15th.) Maybe I’ll even enter a burlap fish. To learn more about Community Work Day, The Great American Cleanup, or the Art of Trash, call 877-2524. By: Sierra Brown
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