CARE.

CARE. not convenience.

Jae Won Lee & Kelly Salchow MacArthur

Plastic. It is convenient and pervasive, lifesaving and the root of suffering. It is so ingrained in our lives it is hard to imagine a world without it. This imagining lies at the heart of the exhibition CARE. not convenience. Created entirely with salvaged plastic, this collaboration between an artist, designer, and an environmental sciences researcher aspired to shed light on society’s dependence and careless overuse, as well as, thoughtless disposal of plastic. The primary material used for work creation was found and collected plastic bags. The extensive exploration of this petroleum-based material has led to methods of fusing sheets of plastic with heat, and making art forms with functional design capabilities (such as wearable art and hanging space dividers) and attention to minimizing waste in processes of production. This exhibition was selected by a jury of Penn State faculty, staff, and students.

360 Tour

HUB Gallery | University Park, PA | AUG 24 - NOV 20, 2020

text written and selected by Lissy Goralnik

Plastic strands hung from ceiling

salvaged plastic bags, recyclable laminate sheet, polyester thread

Large sheets, ironed

salvaged plastic bags, bubble wrap, polyester thread, rivets

Ironed plastic sheets

fused salvaged plastic bags, netting on red

fused salvaged plastic bags, netting on green

fused salvaged plastic bags, netting on yellow

fused salvaged plastic bags, netting on grey

Pill boxes (specimen trays)

CARE NOT CONVENIENCE. salvaged specimen trays, salvaged plastic bags

RESTORY REFLECT REVISION. salvaged specimen trays, salvaged plastic bags

DECIDE salvaged specimen trays, salvaged plastic bags

AWASH AWAKEN PIVOT DENORMALIZE salvaged specimen trays, salvaged plastic bags

Vinyl pieces with function

salvaged vinyl banners, polyester thread, grommets

salvaged vinyl banner, polyester thread, mono-filament

photos by Ashleigh Longtine and Dani Spewak

Appreciate