6 weekly workshops - 1.5 hrs each meeting
Find inspiration everywhere and discover how trash art opens possibilities to work with your personal skills and interests. We will use our surroundings to individually craft an “assemblage box”. We will practice sketching alongside fine art conceptualization, and focus on various techniques in material manipulation, joinery and finishing.
Price: $325
Date: TBD
Inspiration can be found anywhere… even in your trash! In this course, instructor Rebecka Dionne will teach how you can turn your everyday scraps into art, crafting your own "assemblage box" to create your art. You will be learning the history of trash art, as well as fine art techniques and concepts to turn your discarded items into repurposed masterpieces.
Have you ever been curious about Marcel Duchamp’s 1917 piece entitled ‘Fountain?” How did a discarded urinal become an iconic piece of 20th century art? While Duchamp’s piece questioned the very definition of art from a conceptual perspective, the 1990’s popularized upcycling found materials for more practical reasons. It’s environmentally sound, its a creative challenge, and it can provide unexpectedly beautiful and unique materials for interesting pieces of art! So If YOU are interested in the art of repurposing, up-cycling, and reinventing materials for new, creative purposes, then this workshop is for you!
Instructor Rebecka Dionna is a practicing artist in Brooklyn, New York. She holds a BFA in Material Fine Art and focuses the majority of her work on the reuse of suppoles and modern waste (aka “Trash”). The talented artist has worked with fine artists and luxury designers in New York City. She comes with unique teaching skills and a strong background in teaching, coaching and training other artists!
Lesson 1: Introduction to Trash Art
Lesson 2: Sketching Techniques And History of famous found object artists
Lesson 3: Material Manipulation and Creating Samples
Lesson 4: Joinery and Object Assemblage
Lesson 5: Finishing Techniques
Lesson 6: Final Presentations and Display
Trash Art requires different materials for different pieces. We will discuss your specific required materials class by class as we build out our works. It is best practice not to purchase your objects. If needed, buy vintage / used goods. For paints, tools varnishes, adhesives, etc., do not feel restricted, you are welcome to purchase freely from any store used or new.
Needed trash art will be listed on each lessons’ instructions.
● Sketchbook (or any drawing substrate like notebooks and loose paper)
● Your choice of drawing supplies (pens, pencils, pastels, colored pencils, charcoal, watercolors, paints, markers, etc.)
● A folder, bucket, binder or organizer for your material samples and object collection
● Manipulation tool/s - that interest you, such as scissors, sand paper, soldering iron, heat gun (and plate), paint and brushes, rocks, ink or dye, hammer, needle and thread, etc.
● Joinery, adhesives and binding material/s - that interest you such as glues and cements, wires (and wire cutters), yarns, chords, chain, twine, nails or screws (and hammer or correct screwdriver), stapler, hinges, think outside the box, take a stroll in your local hardware store.
● Varnish or any finish material to apply on your final piece - such as matte/semi-gloss/gloss varnishes, both spray and liquid, UV varnishes vs. Non UV, Resin Glaze, Acrylic Glaze, Oil Painting Varnishes, Wood, Automotive and Boat Varnish (for super high gloss!), and standard Artists Sprays for drawings work great on pieces you want to preserve from dust but don't want to add a finish to.
You may choose to also use the following supplies:
● wires and screws for hangings and displaying
● needles, tweezers, scissors
● pliers, wire cutters
● heat gun
● soldering iron
● paper cutter
● cutting board
● exacto knife
● ruler
● small loom if you plan to weave
● small silk sewing pins or dowels for defying gravity
● screws and nails with appropriate tools
● hinges and various hardware supplies (dependent on your sketch)
● disinfectants (for trash pickers like your instructor)
● large bucket for storage of objects
● binder or binder sheets
● resin may be required for your work
● sewing machine may be required for your work
● mica powder
● sculpey clay
● plastic paint primer or other specific primer
● various paints (specific paint will be discussed per person)
● display stand or case
● small shelf inserts for you box
Ebay (for used supplies!):
Ex: Search>Art Supplies>Filter>Condition>Pre-Owned/Used
Etsy and Vintage Shops (don’t be tempted, only purchased used objects):
Ex: Search>Art Supplies>Filter>Item Type>Vintage
Amazon (for quick shipping, be creative, can you reuse the packaging?)
Rebecka Dionne | Multi-Disciplinary Fine Artist
Rebecka Dionne is a practicing fine artist in Brooklyn, New York. With a BFA in Material Fine Art, she focuses much of her work on the reuse of supplies and modern waste like plastics, chords, packaging, and items that break around the home.
Rebecka worked with various fine artists and luxury designers around New York City. With unique teaching skills from her life-long history of coaching, training and teaching, she guides class experience in a jovial and supportive manner.
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