The Art of Repurposing: Your Home, Your Culture, Your Environment (12-17)
The Art of Repurposing assists young participants in transforming a regular food tin can, usually discarded, into something colourful, functional, and gift worthy.
The main activity is to paint and draw onto plaster pots that encase an empty tin can. The result could be a plant pot or a container for utensils, paintbrushes, or pencils.
We will engage the participants in conversations about environmental awareness around their homes while encouraging them to be creative. The two main goals of this project are to spark a conversation about waste management and to create a functional, sculptural vessel from empty tin cans encased in plaster.
Participants can use various techniques and develop themes related to their culture, home, or local environment. This encourages them to express their unique perspectives and convey a story through artwork.
In this course for older participants, we introduce mould-making techniques and get them to form plaster-encased vessels. We’ll also use concrete to create a layered effect, pouring a new section daily. These pieces have a less workable surface but look more robust and Brutalist. Prepare to get a bit messy during this process!
Ben Tarento developed this project in 2015 during an artist-in-residence program at an Ocean Conservation Initiative of Projects Abroad near Suva, in southern Viti Levu, in the Fijian Islands. Since the region had no waste management or recycling system, he used artmaking techniques to repurpose waste food cans into functional, cultural objects.
All pieces can be taken home, and the participants will be encouraged to bring more tins throughout the week. We can make as many as possible and exhibit them at the end!
AGE: Suitable for ages 12 to 17
SKILL LEVEL: Everyone - Suitable for a range of experience and skill. Tutors understand that there will be varying skill levels and will adapt to the needs and interests of all students.
SCHEDULE: Half Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
VENUE: St Mary’s Primary School
STATUS: Places available
Check out the courses below that could be paired with this half-day course…
The Art of Repurposing assists young participants in transforming a regular food tin can, usually discarded, into something colourful, functional, and gift worthy.
The main activity is to paint and draw onto plaster pots that encase an empty tin can. The result could be a plant pot or a container for utensils, paintbrushes, or pencils.
We will engage the participants in conversations about environmental awareness around their homes while encouraging them to be creative. The two main goals of this project are to spark a conversation about waste management and to create a functional, sculptural vessel from empty tin cans encased in plaster.
Participants can use various techniques and develop themes related to their culture, home, or local environment. This encourages them to express their unique perspectives and convey a story through artwork.
In this course for older participants, we introduce mould-making techniques and get them to form plaster-encased vessels. We’ll also use concrete to create a layered effect, pouring a new section daily. These pieces have a less workable surface but look more robust and Brutalist. Prepare to get a bit messy during this process!
Ben Tarento developed this project in 2015 during an artist-in-residence program at an Ocean Conservation Initiative of Projects Abroad near Suva, in southern Viti Levu, in the Fijian Islands. Since the region had no waste management or recycling system, he used artmaking techniques to repurpose waste food cans into functional, cultural objects.
All pieces can be taken home, and the participants will be encouraged to bring more tins throughout the week. We can make as many as possible and exhibit them at the end!
AGE: Suitable for ages 12 to 17
SKILL LEVEL: Everyone - Suitable for a range of experience and skill. Tutors understand that there will be varying skill levels and will adapt to the needs and interests of all students.
SCHEDULE: Half Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
VENUE: St Mary’s Primary School
STATUS: Places available
Check out the courses below that could be paired with this half-day course…
The Art of Repurposing assists young participants in transforming a regular food tin can, usually discarded, into something colourful, functional, and gift worthy.
The main activity is to paint and draw onto plaster pots that encase an empty tin can. The result could be a plant pot or a container for utensils, paintbrushes, or pencils.
We will engage the participants in conversations about environmental awareness around their homes while encouraging them to be creative. The two main goals of this project are to spark a conversation about waste management and to create a functional, sculptural vessel from empty tin cans encased in plaster.
Participants can use various techniques and develop themes related to their culture, home, or local environment. This encourages them to express their unique perspectives and convey a story through artwork.
In this course for older participants, we introduce mould-making techniques and get them to form plaster-encased vessels. We’ll also use concrete to create a layered effect, pouring a new section daily. These pieces have a less workable surface but look more robust and Brutalist. Prepare to get a bit messy during this process!
Ben Tarento developed this project in 2015 during an artist-in-residence program at an Ocean Conservation Initiative of Projects Abroad near Suva, in southern Viti Levu, in the Fijian Islands. Since the region had no waste management or recycling system, he used artmaking techniques to repurpose waste food cans into functional, cultural objects.
All pieces can be taken home, and the participants will be encouraged to bring more tins throughout the week. We can make as many as possible and exhibit them at the end!
AGE: Suitable for ages 12 to 17
SKILL LEVEL: Everyone - Suitable for a range of experience and skill. Tutors understand that there will be varying skill levels and will adapt to the needs and interests of all students.
SCHEDULE: Half Days - Monday 13 to Friday 17 January 2025 - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
VENUE: St Mary’s Primary School
STATUS: Places available
Check out the courses below that could be paired with this half-day course…
course info
Please read all course information below before purchasing tickets for this event.
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DAY ONE
Meet and Greet, tutor intro
Introduce examples of the plaster vessel/object and the project in Fiji
Show some content on waste, clean-ups, and relevant artists/artworks
Introduce different methods of working the plaster surface
Plan by drawing ideas, concepts, themes, stories
Sketch and plan designs on paper that wrap around the pot
Paint background colours onto the plaster pots
DAY TWO
Demonstrate how to make plaster vessels
Demonstrate how to mix and pour concrete layers
Assist participants in making a series of vessels
Continue with current projects or start new ones
Review and demonstrate various methods of working the plaster surface
Start working on one or more plaster pots in a freeform style
DAY THREE
Ask the participants to talk about their work
Make more plaster vessels
Mix and pour another concrete layer
Continue with current projects and start new ones
Sketch and plan more designs on paper that wrap around the pot
DAY FOUR
Use soil and plant cuttings to create a potted plant
Pour the final concrete layer and more plaster vessels
Continue working on your vessels
Discuss the idea of setting up an exhibition on the last day
Make sure to invite your friends to the exhibition!
DAY FIVE
Finish any remaining work
Participants should aim for 1-3 objects (or more)
Share the stories behind your work with the group
Start to set up the exhibition
Open the exhibition as a closing celebration of creativity!
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Please bring the following on your first day of class:
Please bring as many tin cans as you can carry - think baked bean or chopped tomatoes sized - we can always recycle the ones we don't use
Painting clothes
Any leftover/unused acrylic paint at home you'd like to donate
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No experience required.
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YOUR COURSE TUTOR
Ben Tarento
Ben lives and works between the Coffs Coast, Gumbaynggirr Homeland and Melbourne/Naarm, Woiwurrung Wurundjeri Country, Victoria.
His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish Fyreside Arts (Gumbaynggirr Homeland) and Melbourne Art Assist (Woiwurrung Wurundjeri Country). These ventures are not just about business but about maintaining art and creative culture in Australia. These organisations provide services and a platform for artists, curators, and project managers to realise their creative endeavours.
Ben’s artistic journey spans over a decade (since 2009), during which he has exhibited his thought-provoking artworks across Naarm/Melbourne and internationally in Spain, China, and Finland. His work draws hesitant inspiration from the monumental human impact on local species, cultures, microclimates, and aquatic ecosystems. His sculptures and installations serve as counter monuments to human impact and memorials to lost creatures and living systems.
Throughout his practice, Ben has used as much found material as possible, reclaiming materials such as metals and glass sourced from the local environment to communicate concepts of waste as landscape, altered terrains, fluorescing and bleaching corals, and the clearing of whole reef and forest systems. His work is a commentary on corrupt global governments and the abuse and mismanagement of People, Culture and Country.
