Press Release Summary: In managing solid waste, the preferred order of handling it is to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Marilyn Brackney has reused materials since the beginning of her career as an artist and educator. While working as a public school teacher, she often resorted to using solid waste as art materials when she had no money to buy conventional supplies. In 1996, she launched The Imagination Factory, a Web site that encourages environmental responsibility and teaches kids how to reuse materials to make art.
Press Release Body: Columbus, IN September 24, 2008--The Imagination Factory shows visitors how to reuse and recycle solid waste to make art, and the children's website was recently updated with a new membership feature. Among the benefits of joining are access to twenty, new art activities, a quarterly newsletter, and a discount on art and fine crafts purchased in The Green Gallery.
Created by artist and teacher Marilyn J. Brackney, the award-winning site is listed by the American Library Association as one of the best online resources for kids. Since its launch in 1996, millions of people have visited, looking for inexpensive art lessons or ways to encourage kids to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Featuring dozens of free, art/reuse activities, The Imagination Factory includes lessons in drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, paper mache, marbling, and crafts. A Trash Matcher links visitors with appropriate art activities that use the solid waste they have available, and a feature called The Badge Matcher allows Brownies and Girl Scouts to quickly locate projects that help satisfy badge requirements.
Those who join The Imagination Factory have access to twenty, new projects. The lessons featured in Toys, Games, and Other Fun Stuff show how to create playthings including a snow globe, folk art doll, and a mancala game. The Holiday Art and Crafts section teaches visitors how to make gifts that are suitable for birthdays and specific holidays such as Mother's Day, Father's Day, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.
Becoming a member also allows visitors to view The Re-Source, the site's newsletter. Packed with many ideas for saving money, natural resources, and landfill space, it covers topics such as how to find sources of free waste materials in one's community, and where to locate creative scrap exchanges throughout the world. Recipes for various homemade art materials, and recommendations of good art books and websites are included.
Finally, members can view and buy recycled art in The Green Gallery, a showcase of art and fine crafts created by professional artists whose work includes assemblage, collage, doll making, fiber arts, furniture, jewelry, marbling, metalwork, mosaics, sculpture, and weaving. Imagination Factory Members receive a 20% discount on their purchases.
In keeping with the site's theme, all art and fine crafts displayed in the gallery were made with reused or recycled materials. Turning trash into art may bring to mind images of the bleach bottle pigs of one's youth. However, solid waste in the hands of these professionals has evolved well beyond simple art and crafts, and much of their work is collectible.
Mosaic artist Cappi Phillips and her partner Bud Fick are among many of The Green Gallery's exhibitors who are acutely aware of the impact they have on the environment. In speaking about their work, she says, “We're challenged to reuse and reinvent materials in an attempt to show others what can be done with society's orphans. Mosaic lends itself naturally to this challenge.” The Imagination Factory is located at http://www.kid-at-art.com/.
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Web Site: http://www.kid-at-art.com/
Contact Details: 314 Flat Rock Dr Columbus IN 47201 812-372-6886 kidatart@kid-at-art.com
2022
