[WP 7.1] The Art of Recycling

Through a series of exercises, we tried to understand the need for recycling in our every day lives and how we can creatively implement and express this idea by making art. Recycling creatively is a form of art that provides answers as well as evoking questions related to diversity and a positive reception of disability in communities.

Is it the way we see things, our perspective of life as individuals, that gives it a special meaning and therefore makes everything more relatable and easier to accept?

Having the ability to see beyond the mere use of an object, the now seemingly useless object, we can create a new one, one that is functional but in a different way than before. This is the art of recycling, the art of seeing beyond face value and seeing what might be.

OBJECTIVES: Art is accessible to anyone who is willing to express themselves. So we attempted to give young people with special needs the opportunity to express themselves and create art through the use of recycled materials such as glass, paper and plastic. Proving, once again that special needs are not inabilities. We also gave the local community an opportunity to  to appreciate recycling as everyone's obligation.

It will also show that people with special needs have the same sensitivities as other citizens and can be instrumental in improving the quality of life for the community as a whole.

The modern lifestyle and the hectic pace of our daily life is renowned for its negative affect on mood and creativity and the expression thereof. We therefore wanted to highlight this notion, that the expression of creativity and self is always available or accessible to everyone, no matter what the circumstances may be.

The second workshop took place from 1. until 5. October 2014 in Aegina, Greece.

The participants included partners from Sweden- Medis5, Greece- ALMA and Poland- PSOUU. In total there 12 people with special needs and seven staff members.

There was a public call out announced at schools and within the community in order to increase participation and diversity, and raise awareness in the community regarding issues relating to recycling, sport and cultural activities using re-usable and recycled materials. Furthermore, we organized and held an exhibition showcasing of all the material and art created within the project.

The workshops included: an introduction to games, creative inventions through the participation in artistic activities, teaching methods of recycling with different materials, colors, glue, scissors, ribbons, colored paper, shells and textiles. As well as making wreaths and decorating paper lanterns for a local festival, offering a pottery workshop and contributing to an active participation in running games.

The last workshop took place from 23. until 28. June 2015 in Gdansk, Poland.

The participants included partners from Sweden- Medis5, Greece- ALMA and Poland- PSOUU. There were 12 people with special needs and six staff members in total.

The workshop in Poland created craftwork out of recycled materials. Participants came from Greece, Poland and Sweden.

The workshops included: methods for recycling, making masks and paintings, making pins with each partners names, creating dolls and figures for the local parade, as well as organizational preparation and training for the parade.