Plastic waste utilized to create unique works of art
It’s estimated there are nearly 2,000 pounds of plastic for every person on the planet. In turn, the worldwide population produces roughly 300 million tons of plastic water per year.
One person is taking at least a tiny portion of that plastic and reusing it to create wonderful, thought-provoking works of art.
Erik Jon Olson’s exhibit “Ubiquitous” is on display in the McIlrath Landing and Weaver Lobby galleries through July 23 at the Pearson Lakes Art Center in Okoboji.
Visual arts director Danielle Clouse Gast says its an exhibit they’re especially excited for the public to view up close.
“This is a completely different portrayal of what quilted media that we have presented before,” Clouse Gast said. “What’s amazing about seeing these when you enter the building is the complexity and technical ability of Erik Jon Olson. Visitors are going to be blown away by the way he’s composed these pieces.”
Perhaps fittingly, considering the enormity of the global plastic waste problem, the works of art on display in the exhibit are of a fairly large scale.
“Artwork in any media when it’s on a larger scale it transforms the space so much and when those pieces are put together by so many smaller pieces it says so much about the time and technical ability of the artist,” Clouse Gast said.
Indeed, Olson, who is originally from just outside the Lakes area, is utilizing plastic waste in every step of process from the quilt batting being made from the plastic wrapping around pallets to even the threading used to sew each piece together.
The vibrancy of color also owes it various hues to the types of plastic and how they were layered throughout the process. Subjects range from simple colorful patterns to intricately woven birds, sea turtles and schools of fish.
They are works of art that truly need to be seen up close and personal to attain a full grasp of the impact they have individually down to the finest detail and collectively as a show with a clear message about the mounting effects of plastic waste.
“This is definitely one of those shows that to see in person and take it all in from the details to the organization — it’s truly something else,” Clouse Gast said.