Susan Bercu
Community & Environment
Cast-Offs & Masks
“Cast-Off Streamers” Helen Putnam Plaza in Petaluma, CA. Community participation workshops. (above)
Human Trash as Material for Art
My collaborative art events raised awareness of our planet drowning in plastic and assorted cast-off materials. Our over-consumption and habit of convenience results in billions of metric tons of waste that go into the landfill. The community workshops used plastics and other refuse as materials to create "Cast-Offs Streamers”. As a recipient of the ArtSurround* artist grant, I facilitated the “Cast-Offs Streamers” interactive activities in Putnam Plaza. The public engaged in creating the streamers, which were hung from the trees in the Plaza. My cohort, Cinda Gilliland guided the project from working with the city to establish the space to giving support.
*ArtSurround of Creative Sonoma provided the grants to fund these vital community interactive events. CreativeSonoma is a division of the Sonoma County Economic Development Board dedicated to supporting and advancing the creative community of Sonoma County.
“Cast-Off Streamers” and Masks. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. Santa Rosa, CA (above)
Children's Museum of Sonoma County
The Museum received a grant from Creative Sonoma to hold events that created awareness around our waste and energy consumption.
Cast-Offs Streamers
The museum invited me as the featured artist to lead children and families in creating Cast-offs streamers from discarded plastics and other junk. We gathered in the Redwood Grove where under these majestic trees, we attached the various materials to braided plastic ropes and hung them from the branches.
Masks
Since I make wall masks using recycled materials, I was invited by the museum to facilitate a mask-making workshop. Children and families enthusiastically used the donated baskets and discarded junk to create face masks and other objects. Recology Sonoma Marin offered complimentary activities to expand our awareness of over-consumption.