‘vessels from the sea’ fabric & fibre · 2020. 6. 5. · plasc protecve covering for work...

Aim: This activity involves creating 'vessels' using fabric and fibres from the sea. Recycling pre-used materials such as plastic wrap, fishing rope and string (found from the sea), the children will also consider the sustainable usage of the earths limited resources and the concept of a 'circular economy' e.g zero waste. The children will also look at the impacts of plastics in the ocean and our interconnections with the ocean in terms of the types of vessels we use at sea.

Discussion: It is estimated that there will be more plastic than fish in the sea by 2050 (World Economic Forum 2016). It is estimated that twelve million tonnes of plastic waste enter the ocean every year (Greenpeace.org). It has also been discovered by Australian scientists that Birds eat plastic because it smells like fish (due to its presence in the ocean for 3 months or more) (National Geographic). Meanwhile, large whales are found on shorelines around the world having consumed enormous amounts of plastic.

By removing plastics from the ocean to clean and reinvent new products we are contributing to the Circular Revolution. The Circular Revolution aims to reduce waste to zero by constantly re-using materials such as plastic packaging, containers, plastic string and many many more materials. The world has after all has limited resources and we must use our materials sustainably by rethinking, refusing, reducing, repurposing, reusing, recycling and removing our plastic waste from the ocean. This will make a cleaner and safer world.

The art project ‘Vessels from the Sea’ aims to use marine plastic string that has been used by fishing vessels and that has been caught up in seaweed drifts at sea, or been torn apart by ocean storms. By removing this marine plas�c string (there is lots of it), washing it in a cushion in your washing machine at 60deg to make it perfectly clean, it lends itself as a brilliant material for classroom creatity and imagination.

The project ‘Vessels from the Sea’ because a ‘vessel’ has two meanings: It is a ship or large boat and is also means a hollow container, especially one used to hold liquid, such as a bowl or cask. The 'Vessels from the Sea' art project combines the fact that the plas�c string has originated from fishing vessels and we are going to use it to make a household vessel that can hold liquid!

‘Vessels from the Sea’ Fabric & FibrePrepared by Carmel Madigan, Artist & Explorers Outreach Officer, Loophead Summer Hedge School

Sort your collec�on, separa�ng the various types of plas�c collected for different projects. Transfer your marine rope collec�on into a small cushion cover with zip. Zip it in and place in washing machine and wash at 60 degrees celscius.

Assemble all the other materials required for the project. For best results, use Liquitex super heavy gloss gel (approx €30 per 1 litre carton - available for online art stores), otherwise PVA glue.

All Materials needed

Marine plas�c string - cleanedHeavy Acrylic Gloss medium or Gel (Liquitex)(PVA if this is not available)Cling FilmPale�e Knives (plas�c or metal)Small Bowls - wider at top and narrow atbase - one per student.Wool fibres in coordina�ng colours to string colours if availablePlas�c protec�ve covering for work surface

Visual Step by Step crea�on of ‘Vessels from the Sea’ - Crea�ng with Fabric & Fibre Project

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Visit the seashore as a group to collect some waste washed up marine plas�c string. Use plas�c gloves for this job. Note: Much of the string is caught up in seaweed and stuck in grooves in the rock.

Then using a pale�e knife, generously coat over the cling film with the Liquitex super heavy gloss gel (or PVA). The gel is white, but will dry glossy clear, in �me, and has a s�cky bu�ery texture.

When this is done, place so� wool over the base circle and press in well to the gel.


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Cover the work surface with protec�ve plas�c. Then assemble all materials on top of the work surface.

Unravel the thicker marine rope, and then cut to lengths: approx length of plas�c bowl you have chosen. Take the plas�c bowl, turn it upside down and cover completely with cling film on the outside, making sure to wrap cling film over the top on the inside of the bowl

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When you have checked that the gel used in the vessels has dried clear, it is �me to separate the plas�c tub from the ‘new vessel’. This needs to be done with extreme care as gel may have stuck to the inner bowl, if the cling film wasn’t fully covering the bowl. A bu�er knife is a useful tool to help you separate the inner from the outer vessel. Then trim the cling film from the top to reveal a lovely new crea�on. Well done.


Select, the cut and unravelled marine plas�c string pieces and a�ach firmly over the gel on the sides of the vessel. Place them up and down (not criss cross). Look for colour varia�on for best results and make sure that the surface is well covered with the string. Leave plas�c string to overhang at the wide end of the bowl for a decora�ve designer look at the end.

When you have completed all the vessels, carefully move them to an area, where they will not interfere with your class ac�vi�es for the next 2-3 weeks, preferably a warm sunny area, so that the gel can dry to a clear glossy finish. This �me varies and will dry faster in warm condi�ons.

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Finally, it looks like it is ten out of ten for the beau�ful ‘Vessels from the Sea’ on display at the Circular Revolu�on Exhibi�on 2019.

Finally off with the vessels to the ‘Circular Revolu�on’ Visual Art Exhibi�on

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Remember - these crea�ons are called ‘Vessels from the Sea’ because they can hold water, and because the marine plas�c rope is from the fishing industry (fishing vessels).

Draw it - ‘Vessels from the Sea’ poster

Drawing is a mindful exercise, one that allows for new learning skills.

The ‘Vessels from the Sea’ poster will allow the student to not only crea�vely capture their new crea�on, but they can now use this crea�on to explain their understanding of the Circular Revolu�on and to make some important points about cleaning our ocean, by removing plas�c waste and using it to make new products not only in the classroom but also in industry.

The poster can be used to explain the two meanings of the word ‘Vessel’

Hint: A poster must catch the a�en�on of the public within three seconds. The only way to catch a�en�on is though a short simple powerful message and great drawing and colouring. This enables the student to take great care in their poster work, because posters can speak to the world and even change the world.

Reflec�on, further Ac�vi�es, Ques�ons.

Through your shore and class ac�vi�es, you have learned that it is indeed possible to take waste materials from the shoreline and re-imagine them into brand new products. (for instance).

Consider what else you could use marine plas�c string and light rope for.

Think about how marine plas�c string looks like thread... What can you do with thread?

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Which is more durable wool or marine plas�c string?

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The ocean & humans are inextricably interconnected

Ferry

ROV

Trawler

Navy Vessel

Bulk Carrier

Cruise

Sailing Boat

Container Ship

Passenger

Cargo

Freight

Leisure

Container

Fisherman

Scien�st

Navy

Match the human ac�vity on the le� to the vessels on the right(Note: There may be more than one connec�on.)

List other ways we use the Sea, the Ocean, the seashore

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FACTS ABOUT PLASTICS

Fact 1_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Source of Fact:_________________________

Drawing Box

Use the Internet to Research some key facts about plas�cs like1) What are they made of?2) What are they used for?3) What are Micro plas�cs?4) how do they get into the ocean?5) How much plas�c is produced every year and what is the recycle rate?Make a drawing about each fact.

Note: Are your facts true? Check your Source..make sure it is reliable and document your source.. in the ‘Source of Fact’space.



Drawing Box

Drawing Box

Simple Alternatives/Solutions to Plastics/Plastic Reduction

‘Working as a Team and followed by a class discussion - find some solu�ons’

What ac�ons will I take?

Who will I influence?

Drawing/Plan of Action Box

Consider what day to day ac�ons you can take to reduce your carbon footprint and yourplas�c usage footprint in your own personalenvironment.

Remember every ac�on begins with ‘I’ ‘me’.

Who are you going to tell and who are you going to inspire by your ac�ons?

Remember many people young and old are not aware of the danger of plas�c in our environment or in the fact that very li�le plas�c is currently recycled (es�mated at only 30% , one-third.

Make a Great Poster(Group, Class, Individual poster)

to tell the world what we must all do - based

on your solu�ons and classdiscussions.

‘vessels from the sea’ fabric & fibre · 2020. 6. 5. · plasc protecve covering for work...

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