We are currently accepting applications for the 2016-2017 Anson Jones Eco Art Club. Some really awesome things happened due to our hard work last year.  Our campus is currently creating systems to promote a more eco friendly practices on campus and we won an award. I have also had the opportunity to share our work with the Central Edinburg ISD art teacehrs, and I have been told that they have also made chnages in thier classrooms and campuses. This year we will learn how to upcycle what we use into art in many new and exciting ways. Stay tuned ! There is more to come.
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The bulletin boards in the hallway have become workspaces as well as display spaces. Marina Santos has lead a group in creating a plastic weaving project. She has used plastic that can not be recycled in Dallas, TX. These items include plastic utensil wrappers, food wrappers and shopping bags. After she finishes she wants to incorporate straws and plastic spoons. We have talked about a title but she has not decided. The project reminds her of so many things a net or a blanket and she wants to wait until she has completed the project.

 We won! All of our hard work paid off. Our program will receive $1000 for next year! Great Job !! Check out our WFAA story http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/project-green/dallas-elementary-teacher-wins-project-green-eco-educator-award/158536157.

This young eco artist was inspired by the work of Chris Jordan who photographs tiny pieces of plastic and creates artwork that resembles famous artwork such as Hokusai's, Under the Great Wave". We had explored Chris Jordan's work earlier and he decided  that he would like to create art based on Alma Woolsey Thomas', The Eclipse. ​He was very concerned about copyright issues. I assured him that we would give credit where credit is due.

Today near the end of our meeting, the club members decided it was time to choose a name. Initially they like Eco Art Club, but they thought that was too boring. So they focused on the word Earth with emphasis on the word art then with more thought our unofficial president added Omega to Plastic, meaning End to Plastic. This is wonderful, because it sums up what the club does quite nicely. Now our ECO Art Club now has a very precise purpose. Great job Mr. Martinez! It was approved by all and now we need t-shirts.

Each year art teachers in Dallas ISD are required to choose two pieces of artwork from each grade level for our Youth Art Month Show. The district then chooses at least one piece per school to represent in the district art show. This year we had two chosen and one was a piece from this plastic project. I am so proud and excited that this will be on display for the rest of our district to see. Congratulations to the artist!

You can see it at the Youth Art Month Show at the African American Museum at Fair Park in Dallas, TX April 5 -April 15.

The art club students are currently working on a new collaborative piece of art. Each student is making a colored pane of plastic to look like stained glass. They are linking them together with wire. The plan is to hang them in the atrium of our school to be seen from the upstairs hallways and from the atrium as well. Our school recently removed
 some very tired flags and the art club is eager to add some color to these very dull areas. we will in hopes brighten the school and raise awareness of the effects of plastics on our campus.

Today is the big day. The Art Club presented at the PTA meeting. Three students volunteered to speak to the audience about the project reading their thoughts publicly in English and Spanish.
This was very moving. Each of these students have become very passionate about making changes personally, at home, in our school and in their community. 
They created an opinion box from a plastic snack box. We received only positive responses. Most notably was a comment that the sculptures looked like the work of adult professional artists and could be displayed in a gallery. 

Prior to art club I placed materials on each table: small wire cutters, precut pieces of 18 gauge wire, precut pieces of 24 gauge wire, needle nose pliers and the wooden sculptures stands. I cut the wire in about 8 inch pieces to start the project. As the project progressed we would cut more as needed with assistance so the spool would not tangle or unravel.
Before starting their sculptures the students explored the work of an anonymous artist from Philadelphia who created over 1200 sculptures from found materials and left them in an alley . The only thing known of the artist is that he may be an African American man who had been seen making similar figures. No one has ever identified the artist (Frank, 2016).
The students thought they were very cool and were super excited about creating one of their own.

 I gave a short demonstration on how to use the tools and how to work with the wire. 
The challenge was to create a sculpture from plastic using wire to hold the work together.
Each student picked their own materials and began manipulating the materials with the wire. The students were a little apprehensive to use the wire as it was a new material, but soon became comfortable. The students worked for approximately 30 minutes. They did not finish their sculptures as anticipated, but I had planned for them to finish in two sessions.