The Art Pollination project brought together the Waterford Sustainable Living Initiative (SLí), local visual artists Ania Wojewodka and Aga Krum and primary schools for a thematically diverse project using a global education workshop as a springboard to explore issues important both locally and globally such as waste, sustainability, pollination, plastics and the on-going threats to our bee populations and the associated climate impacts. Students, under the direction of visual artists, designed and sculpted permanent pieces of art from reclaimed and collected waste that will be used to plant native Irish wildflowers specifically chosen to appeal to our bees.
Art Pollination from the Waterford Sustainable Living Initiative (SLí) combined environmental education and pieces of sculpture made from reclaimed plastic waste which were installed in 4 primary schools in Waterford City and County. Due to COVID restrictions, they had our public unveilings of these sculptures courtesy of social media. The sculptures were very well received by students, teachers, and our social media audiences.
Each school received a 2-part ‘Problem with Plastics’ workshop followed by a live Zoom Q&A. Each school had a competition and the winning drawing (of either a whale, sea turtle, whale or sea lion) was turned into a sculpture by visual artists Ana Krym and Ania Wojewodka.
Outcomes include: 1) increased understanding of the importance of environmental protection including decreasing waste and protecting pollinators and 2) permanent living art exhibits that can be used as structural and living art for years to come.
A total of four permanent pieces will be constructed, installed and filled with Irish wildflowers in four primary schools (2 in Dungarvan, 1 in Waterford and 1 in Ferrybank). Total of four school participated with approximately 2000 students in total with a reach of over 10,000 on social media.
