KELCI PASCOE
The Corsair
In today’s society there are many different ways that someone can get involved with helping the environment. Sometimes it is easy to become overwhelmed with all these options, however now there is an admirable, easy way to help! PJC now offers a fun and completely free way to get involved with helping the environment, while expressing your more creative side, through an art project called Junk to Art.
On Nov. 6 in room 466 there was an array of art happening. The theme was altering old t-shirts. Many shirts that seemed useless were being turned into wearable pieces of art. This was just one of the many Junk to Art events happening at PJC. Others themes include anything goes and making Christmas gifts.
Jennifer O’Leary, co-creator of junk to art, said, “Junk to Art is a time when people can bring in junk and items that have no use and in a creative space create something out of it. This media already exists, you don’t have to buy it, and so you can’t go wrong with it. You can’t mess it up, it’s already trash.”
Sharron Shields, a long time junk to art attendee, said, “Junk to Art allows for people to be creative and work as a collective thinking process, but still create individually. Limitations can be changed into productivity.”
Junk to Art has an interesting beginning.
O’Leary said, “I found an iron angel on the Live Navel Oaks beach clean up after hurricane Ivan and got the idea of making something out of what was essentially garbage. We really saw it as a way for people to express their creative sides and as a way to help our local environment.”
Most types of trash are welcome at Junk to Art.
O’Leary said, “We thought we would have to say to bring only ‘clean’ trash, but some of the best pieces came from un-clean trash. It doesn’t have to always be ‘clean’ trash. We only ask that you not bring large items, like vacuums.”
After hurricane Ivan, Junk to Art really got involved with helping clean up local beaches, especially the Live Navel Oaks.
O’Leary said, “After hurricane Ivan there were many household items that were spread across the beach. We went out there and cleaned up the beaches then took what would be considered trash and created art out of it.”
Junk to Art is a huge way to help the environment.
Shields said, “Junk to Art is a way to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. We help the environment by cleaning up trash. We make something not thought of as art into art.”
Shannon McClesky, a PJC student and Junk to Art attendant, said, “This is a great way to turn anything un-useful into something useful. It’s a great way to recycle! I was able to utilize t-shirts that I thought I had no more use for.”
Adriana Cepero, PJC student and Junk to Art attendant, said, “This sounded fun and cheap. And we can make cool clothes while getting rid of our old junk.”
“About every two weeks we have a Junk to Art event,” O’Leary said. “The next one will be on the 20th, and anything goes. We have no idea what will happen, and that’s good. There is no standard for this, unlike in an art class. It allows people to express their creativity without holding back or being afraid of the media being used.”
McClesky, who found out about Junk to Art through Splash Magazine, said, “It’s a fun, free event, and you can spend quality time with friends. Don’t be lame and miss out!”
In the spring, there will be a Junk to Art event focusing on the “finer arts.”
O’Leary said, “This would be a great resume builder. The show will be at the end of the spring semester. I encourage people want to participate to focus on making finer pieces of art out of found objects.”
If you would like to be a part of this showing, or get involved with Junk to Art in any way, contact Jennifer O’Leary, joleary@pjc.edu, 484-1434.