Creativity Recycled

In 2004, the Orlando Museum of Art sponsored a Dale Chihuly exhibit that captivated my imagination.  Since I am a glass artist as well as Director of Visual Arts at The Geneva School, I racked my brain for ways we could create work in keeping with the exhibit that so enthralled me. Glass is too dangerous to bring to the classroom, but I recalled my father, who is a sculptor, showing me how he uses plastic from soda bottles to make armatures for some of his work. I scurried to my classroom with a hair drier and some acrylic paint and after visiting the Chihuly exhibit, my students and I created our first project, a Chihuly-style ceiling, with colorful plastic forms resting on a suspended piece of acrylic sheeting.Since then we have made towers, chandeliers, and we have been delighted to participate in The Orlando Museum of Art Festival of Trees with our "Creativity Recycled" trees in 2008, 2009, and our 2010 tree  for this year's festival  where my ornaments, arrangements, and wine stoppers were featured in the boutique. I continue to take commissions for my arrangements made of recycled bottles and have an upcoming installation scheduled for April 23rd at the Orlando Museum of Science's Earth Day celebration. My winter collection marries my love of plastic with my couture jewelry line by juxtaposing what most people consider worthless with that which is deemed precious. To me, transforming 'trash' into a design element that will nestle next to my glass, pearls, and semi-precious stone is an image of hope.  Contact Dale regarding custom plastic arrangements for your event!