Waste Stream Think Tank was a forum of people intended to assess SAIC’s existing waste stream, be a feedback loop to the institution and to exchange ideas on how the institution can design a more sustainable system. Different industrial and institutional professions associated with waste system were there to help understanding bigger picture of the system surrounding us. As an artist, I have created works about the environment surrounding, thinking about the connection. The motivation for this project started from interest in surrounding materials.
(above) This is a mind map showing my journey of learning the waste system in/out of School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).
I started with talking with different people. I would go to wood shops, ask ABM people, talk with people at the events organized by Campus Life. This enabled me to learn about the systems consisting the environment at SAIC and surprised how little things are connected to each other. The project was started as a part of a class from Art Education department, Art of Crossing Street.
The first picture above (photo credit: Youree Kim) was taken from Sharp instructional shop. It’s a scrap bin collecting surplus wood after students’ projects. I asked the manager how frequently the bin was emptied and how much scraps are not reused/recycled my students and trashed. I had to travel different wood shops to find the answers. Only after I met Seth Keller, an assistant director of Sullivan Instructional shop, and he recommended me emailing to building manager, Chase Sperry, I was able to have the answer. As you know, the remaining scraps are handled by Lake Shore and recycled by them.
The second image above was taken from outside of Sullivan wood shop when I was visiting the shops. I asked the manager what they were and he would told me that they were dust from ventilation process and they collect them 3-4 times a week and collected with trash bags. I asked about reusing to my grad friend in Designed Objects department, but the answer was no, as it was mixed with foam dust, which is hazardous material.
The third image was taken from Columbus when I was going back home after studio work. I asked an ABM worker how many trashes he was collecting from one floor, he said 15 bags by compressing.
The fourth image was from one of the food-providing events from Campus life. Whenever there were food-included events, I have asked questions to staffs about the leftovers, why the recycling is not properly executed and how much food is discarded.
So these series of encounters enabled me to meet Megan Isaacs, Sustainability Coordinator at SAIC, and started our collaboration with Drea Howenstein, Art Education instructor.
The Waste Stream Think Tank was organized to
1) actively share what they know about the waste system and circulation of materials in/outside of SAIC,
2) discuss what possible solutions they can think of for more sustainable, environmental friendly system as collective knowledge, and
3) expand the group’s research based on what was discussed during the meeting.
The participating audience were industrial and institutional professionals, faculty, staff, and students.
The discussion was moderated by Megan Isaacs and Drea Howenstein.
During the conversation, as a mapper, I drew the connections between the pieces of knowledge discussed in the meetings.
(Above) The advertising poster was designed by Sullivan Galleries. My mindmap image was included.
This process not only enable to understand the flow of waste distribution but also generate more questions for the contents which were not discussed during the meeting:
How the waste for landfill is handled?
How much trash is generated precisely?
In the context of US and SAIC waste culture, how much recycling is considered important? How can it be instilled as productive learning and making it as habit?
Is it neccessary for students to recycle or separate trash even though the waste will be eventually separated by employees later?
What if students say “this is not my job”?
(photo credit: Hannah Barco)
(photo credit: Hannah Barco)
(photo credit: Hannah Barco)
After the discussion, I wondered what I could do with the data I gained from the conversation.
So I decided to experiment with a performative workshop to activate the data which would raise awareness of the subject, explain about our waste system, and share ideas.
(photo credit: Youree Kim)
First, I started with a game to create a ground before discussion. I asked people think about themselves as part of the whole waste system and make a statement about our dealing with waste in both everyday life and artistic practice and how larger institutions from SAIC to US government manage waste system.
I first practiced with my fellow performers before asking audience to participate and realized that it was very difficult to make people create their statements because they were not interested in the subject/don’t know much about it.
So I asked some performers to use the prepared statements such as:
I feel it is okay for U.S government to export the waste produced from U.S to other countries if they pay for it.
I think I don't have to do recycling/recycling is uneccssary if others don't really recycle.
I feel as long as using biodegradable containers, it is okay to use disposables.
After the game, there was a short screening of summarizing the think tank discussion.
After the screening, we had a 10-minute discussion. Interestingly, no one from US had an experience of learning about sustainability and environment. Few students from different countries like Taiwan, Hong kong had a mandatory education on the subject.
And.......
there was a Sustainable SAIC meeting on Wednesday Dec 16, 2015.
During the meeting, we discussed interesting ideas to create better environment for the institution.
Joey Asal, a graduate from Designed Objects department, is introducing micoboard to instructional shops as alternative material for classes. (reference link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BzS7EE11M4)
Ellie Tse, Celine Setiadi and Joanna Veleris are working on a proposal to host informational/educational events for new students to provide resources such as surplus or recycling.
The one I suggested was collaborating with AKA (Artist Known As) group to host an artist talk on Environment Activism. I have talked with Zebadiah Arrington and Tessa in AKA group so far.
SAIC Student Environmental Action (SEA) Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/344729725558546/
