Preview
Creation Date
12-5-2024
Description
Terrarium in the shape of a deer, formed from used plastic water bottles and chicken wire. This temporary sculpture was created by Ursinus College students in linked Art and Biology classes in conjunction with World Soil Day.
The sculpture was installed on the first floor of Myrin Library.
Student Statement
Our piece touches upon the pollution of soil ecosystems via microplastic contaminants that can take multiple human lifetimes to decompose and alter soil quality and fertility. Without healthy soil, humans and other organisms are limited in food consumption, and the effects of climate change on the earth are exacerbated. In a capitalist society that increasingly emphasizes overconsumption and industrialization, we pay little attention to the effects our individual consumption has on the environment around us. By creating a deer-shaped terrarium out of plastic water bottles collected from around campus, we hope to remind passersby of the effects of their consumption on not only the environment and its ecosystems, but their future, and to potentially reconsider their use of non-reusable materials.
Course Number
BIO/ENVS-350A and ART-106
Rights
Copyright of the underlying work is held by the artists. The digital image presented here is for educational purposes only and is not for commercial use.
Keywords
World Soil Day, sculpture, chicken wire, plastic water bottles, potting soil, seeds, plants
