When you go to the Kent County Public Library in Chestertown, you’d be surprised to find trash around the circulation desks. In this case it’s not really trash. It’s “Trash Art” created by the Kent County School’s 5th grade students.
On Wednesday January 23, 2018 the “Trash Art” exhibit of art created by the 5th grade students of Kent County Public Schools had their opening reception.
In early October the 5th grade students participated in the Sassafras Environmental Education Center’s Coastal Clean-Up project. After picking up the trash on the coastline of the Sassafras River, the students with the assistance of Wayne Gilchrest, sorted the trash to those items that required disposal, to be recycled, and the items they wanted to take back to the school to be used in the Art Project.
Under the direction of their Art teachers Aimee Boumiea and Teresa Jetton the students, either the entire class or in small groups, used their creative imagination to take those trash objects and created art sculptures. These sculptures are now on display at the Chestertown branch of the library.
In total it’s a celebration of art, science, and the creative environmental work being done by local students.
The exhibit began at the library on January 17, 2018 and has already been seen and appreciated by many before the opening reception. The opening reception had been scheduled to be held on January 17, but was delayed due to weather. The “Trash Art” sculptures will be on display until January 31st.
Photographs by SG Atkinson