Colin McKelvey

Cardboard, recycled cans and bottles, coffee box, bottle caps, plastic forks, various vegetation from around campus, hot glue

My piece is created with various recycled materials from my friends and me, as well as various sticks and leaves from different parts of campus. I thought that it would be cool to create a collage of commonly used items and plants from the student body, and what better collage to create than the main staple of campus, McKeldin Mall! This piece gets to showcase the identity of students and the College of Plants at the center of campus, giving a pretty cool view of what campus would look like in a nutshell. 

Grace Pak

Canvas, seashells, rocks, paint, hot glue 

My work is a reflection of an ocean backdrop with a fish and a turtle. To add depth and texture to the artwork, I used natural components, such as seashells for the bodies and rocks for the body parts. This painting captures the serenity and beauty of ocean life, utilizing natural elements to enhance the artwork's features. The purpose of this project is to remind others of the importance of using natural materials in our everyday lives and to make an effort to protect the ocean’s life.

Aurora Megna

Clay & acrylic paint

This piece is a candle holder shaped like a daffodil, representing the endless possibilities of natural materials. Using natural air-dry clay, I formed a base flower for the main section of the candle holder. Mother Nature provides us with many ways to create art using given materials, and I was able to utilize clay to create something rather than buying a mass-produced object. Considering what we already have available to us as artists, it reduces our environmental footprint. 

Natalie Mason

Dried leaves, beads, bottlecaps, paint, push pins

This piece draws upon the things we emphasized during each lesson of the Appreciate Your E(art)h workshop. Using recycled bottle caps and dried leaves, I aimed to combine the benefits of both methods of using nature as art and using recycled materials for art. I wanted to stay on theme with the phrases and symbols. This shows how not only can you reuse materials for art, but also can use it to advocate for the sustainable reuse.

Sabrina Sapoznick

Natural clay, paint, water

This art piece is a clay trinket shaped like a blooming flower that functions as a jewelry holder. I made it both pretty and useful. It shows how everyday objects can still be creative and fun. With Flower Power, I am showing appreciation for nature by using clay from the earth to make my own version of an everyday object.

Ciara Johnson

Sticks, Yarn, Flowers

This piece blends textile art with the concepts introduced in our workshop, focusing on simple, approachable crafts that require minimal materials. Using foraged sticks as a loom and weaving yarn and wildflowers, the piece highlights accessibility in art-making and the importance of nature. By using easily found materials, it demonstrates that art can be created without the need for expensive supplies, making it more inclusive and sustainable. The act of gathering sticks and flowers connects the artist to their environment and can bring mindfulness. This approach to art creates a deeper appreciation for nature and emphasizes the beauty of creating with what is around us.

Finn Roche

Aluminum can, glass bottle, chopstick, litter, acrylic paint, spray paint, hot glue

Inspired by the resilience of nature, Bloom from Waste transforms discarded aluminum cans into delicate flowers, symbolizing rebirth and sustainability. This piece reflects our team’s thesis: that sustainable practices can harmonize with beauty and functionality. The contrast between industrial material and organic form invites viewers to reconsider what is truly “waste.” Influenced by urban gardens and upcycled art, this work challenges viewers to see value in what is overlooked and to imagine a world where even trash has the potential to thrive.

Arturo Galeano Vega

For this piece, I was enlightened to create art from basically nothing. While learning how to relate art and nature, I found myself finding a useful piece of art limited by the resources. This was used as an inspiration for my vases, taken from nature, and also from what is used every day, like plastic bottles. This piece allowed me to exhibit my creative process, my interests with including characters I like, and what I learned during our workshop.

Giselle Maravilla

Air-dry clay & acrylic paint

My piece was inspired by the seashells I collected during my childhood beach visits and by the painting of Aphrodite emerging from a shell. I chose to use air-dry clay because I enjoyed working with it so much during our workshop, and it allowed me to sculpt natural, organic forms. I painted the piece with acrylics to highlight the shades of blue, enhancing its connection to the ocean. The use of sustainable materials gathered from the earth reflects the idea that I learned during my workshop and honors the beauty of nature. This piece combines my childhood memories with classical paintings, focusing on sustainability and the beauty of the artwork.

Jaclyn Koman

Recycled jars, acrylic paint

I was inspired to create Under the Sea because I was focused on making art with recycled materials. I also love being outdoors and enjoy the ocean, which is why I made my jars painted with seahorses and starfish. This ocean theme demonstrates how we can create sustainable art by using recycled materials, such as jars, thereby helping to reduce environmental waste that harms these creatures. The materials I used were two recycled jars and paint.