Students Create Art from Recyclables
Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus along with Art Institute of California-Los Angeles students create an eco-friendly winter wonderland using recycled transit maps, shredded plastic bags and natural materials.
By Amy Sommer | December 09, 2009
Old Bus Maps Become Trees and Old Bags Snow
All of the individual displays contain either recycled or natural materials, including old Big Blue Bus maps and bus tokens, natural pine cones, water bottles, empty food boxes, recycled wood planks, paper towel rolls, discarded tree branches and old bicycle tires.
"When you first look at the window display, it's so peaceful and picturesque," said Dan Dawson, customer relations manager for the Big Blue Bus. "I think it really captures the feeling and quiet of being in a forest."
"So many people do a double take when they walk by or come into the store," said Dawson. "When you tell them the display is made from paper maps, a little paint and some fish line, they just can't believe it!"
Interior design students Dimitra Dorbacopoulos and Margallet Yosef are completing their final year of a fo
A Sleigh for Eco-Santa
ur-year Bachelor's program at The Art Institute, and were selected for the project because of their exemplary performance in their work, both inside and outside the classrooms. Both students will be graduating this month.
"We hoped that by doing this display, it would set an example to society that the beauty in art work lies not only in creativity, but in the process as well," said Dorbacopoulos.
Michelle Estrellado, director of public relations and marketing for the Art Institute of California-Los Angeles, said working with the Big Blue Bus always gives the school's students a truly unique experience.
"This project gave these two gifted and artistic students a real world opportunity to use recycled materials in their designs, which perfectly complements the Interior Design program curriculum," she said.
Day Passes... expired but reborn as ornaments
