America Recycles (Every)Day
ARD 2023-2024 Conscious Designing Inquiry
This Inquiry project started in 2023 and will continue in 2024.
Sustainability has been at the base of all our creative projects.
Our journey with Recycling has evolved from promoting Recycling to Reusing to REDUCING, now directing attention to RE-THINKING Consciously.
For ARD 2023 we are taking a step further (or backward) while starting Conscious Designing', talks that are Inquiry into Human Nature to create, consume, discard, without being mindful of its consequences.
This project will involve talks around 'Materials' in relation to “Dimensions of Water’
We would like to Look at Designing in a broader spectrum where Design is not just the realm of Art or artistic ventures but spreads out to how you think Creatively and execute Consciously
Can we come together to explore the possibilities of Conscious Designing?
Conscious of what? Let's explore that together too?
Tentative timeline of the project-
Collaborations are open starting October 2023
A virtual meet is in planning mid-November- ARD 2023.
Events based on these talks will be planned for Spring, Summer of 2024.
Join us for monthly virtual talks. to shape the project.
Stay tuned on this page for updates as they come.
Section below is archival content not updated. All events are closed from previous year.
America Recycles Day- 2022
is part of E2Re Collaborative Project
This year’s theme is ‘LEARNING while RECYCLING’ with emphasis on Paper (upcycling and consumption). More details below.
Check excerpts from ARD 2021 ‘Inspired by Nature’ with guest speaker, David Subers from Urbana Park District.
We are thankful to all our E2Re collaborators who engaged in hosting suitable events revolving around REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. for their respective projects.
E2Re Eco-Culture-Arts project is a collaborative undertaking of
Spurlock Museum , The Museum of Grand Prairie , Urbana Park district, IDEA store, PACA, Ascend Art360.
ARD Collaborative Events below.
Urbana Park District’s ARD 2022 on 5 November 10am to noon
Spurlock Sundays at Spurlock Museum on 13 November 1:30-4pm.
PACA Education Open House and Map Art Display opens 16 November- 23 November
Museum of the Grand Prairie- Repair it and wear it! November 18, 19 2022, 11am, 1pm
Learning while recycling in Barkstall School classrooms with Ascend Art360 on 2, 10 November.
Creative Upycling- crafts at Teens Lab , Champaign Public Library with Ascend Art360 on 4, 9 November.
Art Displays of upcycled arts during the project at IDEA store from 15 November to 15 December, 2022
Some pictures from events are covered below as Slideshows (top to bottom)
1- Urbana Park District’s ARD 2022 on 5 November 10am to noon
Thanks to Savanna Donovan and David Subers for coordinating and supporting the project.
2- Spurlock Sundays at Spurlock Museum on 13 November 1:30-4pm.
Thanks to Kim Sanford for her efforts in planning and executing Paper recycling activities and Beth Watkins for coordinating with the project.
3- Upcycling Art Displays at IDEA store from 15 November to 15 December, 2022
Thanks to Christa for her help with setup, to Jessy for co-ordianting and Katie Snyder to connect us to the Store.
4- PACA Education Open House and Map Art Display opens 16 November- 23 November 2022
Thanks to Thomas Warde for coordinating and Tom for supporting the project.
5- Collage Artworks by students of Centennial High School
Thanks to Ms Shannon Percoco, for hosting the activities and also being our education advisor for the project.
6- .Teens Lab at Champaign Public Library 9 November 3-4:30pm
Thanks to Kathie Kading for giving us a chance to be part of Teens Lab
7- Making masks inspired by Spurlock Museum specimen, Collages with PACA Maps and materials from IDEA store at Barkstall Elementary School
Thanks to Mr Grant Thomas for hosting and planing this up-cycling activities as part of his Art classes.
8- Museum of the Grand Prairie- Repair it and wear it! *(coming up soon) event November 18, 19 2022, 11am, 1pm respectively
Thanks to Katie Snyder for supporting and encouraging this project.
Some upcycling creations from Arts and Humanities month celebrationshere.
Check out clips from ‘Inspired by Nature’ America Recycled Day 2021 here.
Special Thanks to the IDEA store for hosting community displays of Up-cycling creations.
U Cycle program info tables hosted at APNC
Recycling crafts hosted by IDEA store at the APNC for Urbana Park District's ARD event
Upcycling plastic to make creative faces during 'America Recycles Day' event at the Anita Purves Nature Center.
3D tree craft Samples for 'Spurlock Sundays' E2Re event. at the Spurlock Museum.
Visitors followed templets and decorated their own way
left over paper pieces for decorations
Displays to commemorate America Recycles Day at the IDEA store
Artworks made during workshops at the Asian American Cultural center and recycled collage works of Centennial students is been seen here.
Displays at the IDEA store- Upcycling creations by students of Barkstall school, Spurlock Sundays, Champaign Library teens Lab
Displays at PACA Open house- 16 November
collage works on Map by Barkstall students
Collage Artworks by students of Centennial Highschool.
converting a valentine box board into up cycled standing heart showpiece
Making up cycled 3D standing structures at the Teens lab, Champaign Public Library.
transforming a cut out paper into conceptual art
Upcycling activities in Mr Grant Thomas's Art class at Barkstall School.
Collage works trying to consider Map layouts
Collage works using found fabrics and yarn pieces from IDEA store
Creative recycling at Museum of Grand Prairie.
The Owl Collage was made with the left over paper bits during one of our creative recycling activity. So it Is RE-RE-cycled piece.
It represents our outlook towards sustainability that directly impact wildlife and all life forms in any given ecology. Our Recycling efforts since last few years are directed towards talking about REDUCE and RETHINK—Inspired by Nature.
When one engages in the wonders of Nature, its many beautiful manifestations, its inanimate and living forms, one is motivated to take care of its beauty. Then the need to take care of Nature/ Environment/ Wildlife/ ourselves, becomes a natural process not forced upon.