Printmaking with reclaimed materials

How can we re-use waste?

In 2014, I was commissioned to produce a piece of work for a group exhibition being hosted by the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in Coventry, within the CCCA (the Coventry Centre for Contemporary Art). The brief was to ‘creatively present found objects relating to Coventry in a way that captures a connection to the Museum’s own collection’. I exhibited work alongside artists Martin Green and curator, Lorsen Camps.

During the course of the exhibition, I ran two printmaking workshops using found objects. These were open to the public, and attended by adults & children.

The workshop offered the opportunity to use common waste materials, household objects and handmade stencils, to explore block print techniques, along with taking impressions from surfaces e.g. plastic, polystyrene, rubber, cardboard etc. using water based inks. The workshop allowed exploration of mark making without the need for any specialist equipment, whilst re-using waste, and demonstrating ways to re-direct resources away from landfill.

The theme of exploring the visual culture of waste in the UK is one I am continuing to explore through various visual communication & teaching techniques, with the intention of securing more exhibition & workshop opportunities in the future.