Plastic Earth Project
What’s New: Plastic Earth Project is currently working on an upcycled clothing line using gently-used clothing, scrap fabrics, crochet pieces, and miscellaneous upcycled items.
Plastic Earth Project is an environmental project presented through artistic expression and community engagement that started in 2017. This project consists of research, public workshops, educational outcomes, and professional feedback. By hosting workshops, I will teach the public an alternate way to upcycle plastic bags donated by the community.
The goals for this project are:
Plastic Earth Project is an environmental project presented through artistic expression and community engagement that started in 2017. This project consists of research, public workshops, educational outcomes, and professional feedback. By hosting workshops, I will teach the public an alternate way to upcycle plastic bags donated by the community.
The goals for this project are:
- Create awareness of plastic waste.
- Teach an alternate way to upcycle plastic bags.
- Initiating community engagement and inclusiveness with one goal.
- Collaborating with the community and local artists to create an impactful and educational experience for viewers.
Scope of Work
- To take donated plastic bags from the community and create an immersive installation for the public to experience.
- To collaborate with the community and create a sense of achievement with a mutual mission.
Process and Outcomes
Once announcing the project to the public, an incredible amount of donations was received from the community. During the second month, a test workshop was hosted at a local free community event. A handful of participants, mainly youth, were curious about the project and gave the plarn workshop a try. By the third month, there were enough donations to begin fabrication. Plans were drawn out. Materials were gathered. Sorting bags and turning them into plarn were the main first steps of the process.
In April 2023, UNLV Art Department donated space for a weekly workshop site. The workshops had 2-3 attendees each with more adults than youth participants.
During May 2023, special event workshops were hosted. One of the workshops was attended by a journalist. This led to exposure on a larger level through a local magazine. This created more awareness to the project and the amount of donations rose.
While reaching the completion of fabrication and still juggling donations, June 2023 was when volunteer crocheters were chosen and given kits to make pieces that added to the final installation.
Fabrication continues through the first week of July in time for a pop-up event during the Hey Maker Market on the 2nd Saturday of the month. The installation will then be transported to a privately owned site with a sneak peek on the 27th and the final event on the 29th.
In April 2023, UNLV Art Department donated space for a weekly workshop site. The workshops had 2-3 attendees each with more adults than youth participants.
During May 2023, special event workshops were hosted. One of the workshops was attended by a journalist. This led to exposure on a larger level through a local magazine. This created more awareness to the project and the amount of donations rose.
While reaching the completion of fabrication and still juggling donations, June 2023 was when volunteer crocheters were chosen and given kits to make pieces that added to the final installation.
Fabrication continues through the first week of July in time for a pop-up event during the Hey Maker Market on the 2nd Saturday of the month. The installation will then be transported to a privately owned site with a sneak peek on the 27th and the final event on the 29th.
Workshops
Each workshop will consist of a quick presentation about the environmental issue of plastic bags, a tutorial on how to make yarn out of plastic bags and how to crochet the "plarn" into small sculptures. After each workshop there will be a survey of how much the participants learned from the experience.
In each workshop, there will be a quick introduction about the project including facts about the environmental issue of plastic bags. The introduction will be followed by a tutorial on how to make yarn out of used plastic bags. After the demonstration, I suggest ways to use the plarn such as braiding bracelets and weaving.
One of the ways I suggest using plarn is to use it for crochet. I will also be offering advanced workshops where I teach attendees how to crochet the plastic yarn into a small sculpture after the tutorial. These advanced crochet workshops can be done right after the plarn workshop or can be saved for a 2nd event.
Workshops are hosted at local entities that are free for the public to participate in. Materials are included. You can bring your own plastic bags to use. We are always accepting plastic bag donations. Workshops are led by me. All workshop assistants are local artists hired by me and paid with monetary donations and grants. This project heavily supports local artists by opening paid temporary art positions. If you would like to donate to add funds for hiring artists, please see below the information under DONATIONS.
Materials: All materials are included. Participants are encouraged to bring their own plastic bags to use and/or donate to the project. The workshop is family-friendly and open to all ages. Younger children will need parental assistance with the use of scissors.
• Used Plastic Bags
• Safety Scissors
• Plastic Needles
• Beads
• Cardboard Weaving Looms
• Crochet Hooks
If you are a local entity and would like to open your space for a workshop, please contact [email protected]
In each workshop, there will be a quick introduction about the project including facts about the environmental issue of plastic bags. The introduction will be followed by a tutorial on how to make yarn out of used plastic bags. After the demonstration, I suggest ways to use the plarn such as braiding bracelets and weaving.
One of the ways I suggest using plarn is to use it for crochet. I will also be offering advanced workshops where I teach attendees how to crochet the plastic yarn into a small sculpture after the tutorial. These advanced crochet workshops can be done right after the plarn workshop or can be saved for a 2nd event.
Workshops are hosted at local entities that are free for the public to participate in. Materials are included. You can bring your own plastic bags to use. We are always accepting plastic bag donations. Workshops are led by me. All workshop assistants are local artists hired by me and paid with monetary donations and grants. This project heavily supports local artists by opening paid temporary art positions. If you would like to donate to add funds for hiring artists, please see below the information under DONATIONS.
Materials: All materials are included. Participants are encouraged to bring their own plastic bags to use and/or donate to the project. The workshop is family-friendly and open to all ages. Younger children will need parental assistance with the use of scissors.
• Used Plastic Bags
• Safety Scissors
• Plastic Needles
• Beads
• Cardboard Weaving Looms
• Crochet Hooks
If you are a local entity and would like to open your space for a workshop, please contact [email protected]
Survey
After each workshop, a survey will be taken by the participants. The survey will ask what the participant learned about plastic waste from the workshop, if the workshop taught a good alternative to reusing plastic bags, if the workshop inspired them to be more aware of their decisions about plastic bag use, how their experience was in the workshop and how it can be improved.
Workshop Schedule
All workshops are free except for the DISCOVERY Children's Museum event.
February 11, 2023 - Hey Maker Co., Fergusons Downtown, Las Vegas, NV
11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM
April 2, 2023 - UNLV Art Department, HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
2:30 PM
April 9, 2023 - UNLV Art Department, HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
2:30 PM
April 15, 2023 - Fergusons Downtown, Hey Maker Market, Las Vegas, NV
11:30 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM
April 16, 2023 - UNLV Art Department, HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
April 23, 2023 - UNLV Art Department, HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
April 30, 2023 - UNLV Art Department, HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
May 5, 2023 - Spring Valley Public Library, Conference Room, Las Vegas, NV
4 PM - 5:30 PM
May 13, 2023 - DISCOVERY Children's Museum, Las Vegas, NV
12 PM - 3PM
February 11, 2023 - Hey Maker Co., Fergusons Downtown, Las Vegas, NV
11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM
April 2, 2023 - UNLV Art Department, HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
2:30 PM
April 9, 2023 - UNLV Art Department, HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
2:30 PM
April 15, 2023 - Fergusons Downtown, Hey Maker Market, Las Vegas, NV
11:30 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM
April 16, 2023 - UNLV Art Department, HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
April 23, 2023 - UNLV Art Department, HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
April 30, 2023 - UNLV Art Department, HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
May 5, 2023 - Spring Valley Public Library, Conference Room, Las Vegas, NV
4 PM - 5:30 PM
May 13, 2023 - DISCOVERY Children's Museum, Las Vegas, NV
12 PM - 3PM
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Project Timeline
JANUARY 2023
MARCH 2023
APRIL 2023
MAY 2023
JUNE 2023
JULY 2023
- -Created project details.
- -Announced project to public.
- -Donations opened. Received donations.
- -Event: 01/28 – Sembrando Sol, Starboard Tack FEBRUARY
- -Test Workshop.
- -Event: 02/11 - Hey Maker Market, Fergusons Downtown -Received donations. Began fabrication.
MARCH 2023
- -Received donations. Fabrication continues.
- -Event: 3/01 - We’re All Mad Here, Cheba Hut Rainbow
- -Event: 3/04 – Feminine Gaze, Starboard Tack
- -Event: 3/11 – Every Rose Has A Name, Rhythms Event Center
APRIL 2023
- -Received donations. Fabrication continues.
- -4 total workshops, UNLV Art Department
- -Event: 4/15 – Hey Maker Market, Fergusons Downtown
MAY 2023
- -Received donations. Fabrication continues.
- -Event: 5/05 – Spring Valley Public Library
- -Event: 5/13 – AAPI Celebration Month, DISCOVERY Children’s Museum
- -Event: 5/27 – Spring Valley Public Library
JUNE 2023
- -Received donations. Fabrication completion.
- -Accepted volunteers to crochet pieces for the final installation. Received pieces from volunteers.
JULY 2023
- -Event: 7/08 – Hey Maker Market, Fergusons Downtown. Final Install.
- -Feedback from evaluators. 7/22
- -Event: 7/27 – Lulu, Privately Owned Site.
- -Event: 7/29 – Lulu, Privately Owned Site. Volunteer crocheters’ pieces are juried and awarded prizes.
- -Event: 7/27 - Lulu, Privately Owned Site. One year anniversary at Lulu.
Workshop Photos |
Fabrication Progress |
Final Installation
In June, local crochet artists were invited to crochet plarn into pieces for the Plastic Earth Project Final Installation. Seven amazing makers volunteered to create these pieces. Each maker was given a kit with the following materials:
Participants are encouraged to use their own plastic bags.
After the workshops, all the pieces made by the volunteers were attached to larger pieces to be included in the installation.
The final installation will be an immersive environment where the viewer will be surrounded by crocheted sculptures made of used plastic bags. The goal is to experience a world made of plastic. The project hopes to inspire the public to upcycle plastic bags as a starting point to slowly diminish this environmental issue.
Participants are encouraged to use their own plastic bags.
- Used Plastic Bags
- Plastic Needles
- Crochet Hook
- Crochet Pattern & Instruction
After the workshops, all the pieces made by the volunteers were attached to larger pieces to be included in the installation.
The final installation will be an immersive environment where the viewer will be surrounded by crocheted sculptures made of used plastic bags. The goal is to experience a world made of plastic. The project hopes to inspire the public to upcycle plastic bags as a starting point to slowly diminish this environmental issue.
Professional Feedback
To fulfill the professional feedback aspect of this project, three local professionals have been invited to view and evaluate the installation during the Hey Maker Market. Evaluators were asked to assess every part of the project from the structure and experience of the installation, to the engagement and impact of the workshops.
Evaluators
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Eztli Amaya
Eztli Amaya, co-founder of Fifth Sun Project has been involved and organizing with many communities of Southern Paiute lands - Las Vegas mainly through mutual aid and cultural awareness through artivism for seven years, as a mother first, inspired to build better systems for future generations. @fifthsunproject |
Emily Budd
Emily Budd’s sculptural work seeks queer futurity and place-making through reformative monuments, artifacts, and memorials. Her project "Memorial for Queer Rhyolite" marks an AIDS-era queer utopian effort in a Nevada ghost town currently on view at the Goldwell Open Air Museum, and has been published nationally. Budd received an MFA from California College of the Arts in 2018 and moved to Las Vegas in 2019 where she leads the expanding community foundry project, "Aluminati." Budd currently serves as Visiting Assistant Professor of Sculpture at UNLV. emilybudd.com / IG @ladybudd |
Ashley Zabarte
Ashley Zabarte is a local artist and the owner of Hey Maker Co located inside Fergusons Downtown. Besides running a creative retail space, Ashley also hosts a monthly market called Hey Maker Market where she curates a group of local makers to vend their creations in a public setting. Ashley also hosts workshops that help new small businesses succeed. @heymakerco |
Opening Event, 1st Location
The first viewing of this installation will be during the Hey Maker Market at Fergusons Downtown in Las Vegas, Nevada. This event will be on Saturday, July 8th from 10AM to 2PM. The installation will be accessible to the public and is a free event. Along with the installation, the project will have plarn kits available with a $10 minimum donation. These kits include the same materials that were available during the workshops. Donors will have a choice of a crochet kit which gives instructions to make a plarn jellyfish and sea cucumber. Weaving Kits are also available which includes a reusable upcycled cardboard loom. The project will also offer mini polaroid photos inside the installation that you can keep with a $5 donation. Plastic bag donations will also be accepted during the event.
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Closing Event, 2nd Location
The installation will travel to a second location for a closing reception. The location is a privately-owned site called Lulu. This event will be on Saturday, July 29th from 6pm to dusk. For this event, the installation can be viewed in both day-setting and night-setting. The night-setting features a black light activation. Viewers will be given a black light while entering the installation to have a different experience.
Three jurors have been invited to critique some of the pieces in the installation. Some time in the event, three pieces will be given honorable mentions. The jurors will be announced at the event and posted here after the event.
During this event, local artist Zahra Bilal will be live painting. Food and refreshments will be available.
A soft viewing will happen the Thursday before this event, July 27 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at Lulu. Please reach out for more information.
Three jurors have been invited to critique some of the pieces in the installation. Some time in the event, three pieces will be given honorable mentions. The jurors will be announced at the event and posted here after the event.
During this event, local artist Zahra Bilal will be live painting. Food and refreshments will be available.
A soft viewing will happen the Thursday before this event, July 27 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at Lulu. Please reach out for more information.
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The Future of Plastic Earth
Plastic Earth is a project that can become a continuous project. The project has the ability to continue accepting donations to be upcycled into plastic yarn. The plastic yarn will then be crocheted into functional items such as sleeping mats, reusable bags, hats, and accessories. The items made with the plarn will be donated to local organizations who are able to disperse the items to those in need.
If you are a local organization who would like to collaborate with Plastic Earth Project or would like to suggest an organization, please feel free to email the address below.
If you are a local organization who would like to collaborate with Plastic Earth Project or would like to suggest an organization, please feel free to email the address below.
Donations
For material donations, please see schedule below with sites to donate:
February 11, 2023 - 11am to 4pm = Hey Maker Market, HeyMaker Co., Fergusons Downtown, Las Vegas, NV
March 1, 2023 - 7pm to 10:30pm = We're All Mad Here, Cheba Hut (Rainbow), Las Vegas, NV
March 4, 2023 - times TBD = Feminine Gaze International Women's Day Art Festival, Starboard Tack, Las Vegas, NV
April 2, 2023 - 10AM - 4:30PM = UNLV Fine Art Department, Sculpture Yard/HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
April 6, 2023 - 7 PM - 12AM = Artifice, Preview Thursday, Las Vegas, NV
April 9, 2023 - 10AM - 4:30PM = UNLV Fine Art Department, Sculpture Yard/HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
April15, 2023 - 11 AM - 4PM = Hey Maker Market, Fergusons Downtown, Las Vegas NV
April 16, 2023 - 10AM - 4:30PM = UNLV Fine Art Department, Sculpture Yard/HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
April 23, 2023 - 10AM - 4:30PM = UNLV Fine Art Department, Sculpture Yard/HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
April 30, 2023 - 10AM - 4:30PM = UNLV Fine Art Department, Sculpture Yard/HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
Donation materials accepted:
For monetary support, please click the links below. Please mention "Plastic Earth" on the note.
February 11, 2023 - 11am to 4pm = Hey Maker Market, HeyMaker Co., Fergusons Downtown, Las Vegas, NV
March 1, 2023 - 7pm to 10:30pm = We're All Mad Here, Cheba Hut (Rainbow), Las Vegas, NV
March 4, 2023 - times TBD = Feminine Gaze International Women's Day Art Festival, Starboard Tack, Las Vegas, NV
April 2, 2023 - 10AM - 4:30PM = UNLV Fine Art Department, Sculpture Yard/HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
April 6, 2023 - 7 PM - 12AM = Artifice, Preview Thursday, Las Vegas, NV
April 9, 2023 - 10AM - 4:30PM = UNLV Fine Art Department, Sculpture Yard/HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
April15, 2023 - 11 AM - 4PM = Hey Maker Market, Fergusons Downtown, Las Vegas NV
April 16, 2023 - 10AM - 4:30PM = UNLV Fine Art Department, Sculpture Yard/HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
April 23, 2023 - 10AM - 4:30PM = UNLV Fine Art Department, Sculpture Yard/HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
April 30, 2023 - 10AM - 4:30PM = UNLV Fine Art Department, Sculpture Yard/HFA 152, Las Vegas, NV
Donation materials accepted:
- Used Plastic Bags (please make sure the bags are not wet, sticky, overly dirty, or holey)
For monetary support, please click the links below. Please mention "Plastic Earth" on the note.
Follow Our Journey
Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see our progress and keep updated on our events.
Facebook: /PlasticEarthProject
Instagram: @PlasticEarthProject
For questions or comments, email [email protected]
Facebook: /PlasticEarthProject
Instagram: @PlasticEarthProject
For questions or comments, email [email protected]
Project Team
Ailene Pasco – Project Coordinator, Fabricator • Andrew Parker – Project Assistant, Fabricator • Nancy Good – Volunteer Fabricator • Christina Uran – Volunteer Fabricator • Anahi Bravo – Volunteer Fabricator • Eunice Bravo – Volunteer Fabricator • Bertha Gutierrez – Volunteer Fabricator • Guadelupe Tun-Diaz - Volunteer Fabricator • Lola Sanchez – Volunteer Fabricator • Mirasol Edrada – Project Logo Illustrator • Oscar Gomez – Marketing Media Illustrator • Maria Cavazos – Photographic Documentation
Special Mentions and Donors
In no specific order: Nevada Arts Council – National Endowment of the Arts – Mickey Sprott – Vanessa Maciel – Stormi Holt – Claire Wentzel – Spring Valley Library and Anahi Bravo – UNLV Sculpture Department and Emily Budd – Her 38 Roses and Deanna Blackcrow – Geo Uranda – Kayla Talastas – Iulia Filipov – Eileen Ramos – Las Vegas Weekly and Shannon Miller – Chelsea Mango – Discovery Children’s Museum – Fifth Sun Project and Eztli Amaya – Wild West Fund Nevada and Jaz Margarita Tobon – Solidarity Fridge – Pigeon Hat Collective – Hey Maker Co and Ashley Zabarte – Lulu - Brooke Feder – Alisha Kerlin – Adriana Chavez The reason for my project, my kids: Ozzy, Olly, and Ox
This program/project was supported, in part, by the Nevada Arts Council, a state agency, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and the state of Nevada.
This program/project was supported, in part, by the Nevada Arts Council, a state agency, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency, and the state of Nevada.
