Event Date: Sunday, April 21, 2024
Event Time: 1:00-4:00 pm
Location: Collaboration & Community Gallery
[View this on the Spurlock Events page.]
How old will you be in 2040? The Earth Day theme for 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics,” and the people over at earthday.org have set a goal: “60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040” - that's just 16 years away! These days, it’s easy to get clothing and other items quickly – but it costs our environment in a big way: 69% of all our clothes are made from synthetic fibers, and these account for 35% of the microplastics found in the ocean (this happens when we wash them). Let’s explore what this means for us and how we can help.
What we’ll do: During today’s hands-on workshop, we will teach you how to make pillows using materials you already have. You will walk away with your very own creation, the skills to make new things at home, and resources for where to go to learn more.
Who you’ll meet: We’ll be joined by two University educators who know a thing or two about sustainable textiles (creating new fabrics from used materials): Chiara Vincenzi from the School of Art & Design, and Sheri Glowinski from the Office of Student Sustainability.
What to bring: anything you can use! Old clothing, sheets, towels, buttons, sewing supplies...anything that you already have. Please don’t buy new items for this event, as we are focusing on sustainability and upcycling the old into something new.
Encouraged age: 7+ (that’s 23 or so by 2040). ALL AGES are of course welcome, and Science and Social Studies teachers/students are especially encouraged!
Takeaways...
This is one of my favorite partnerships from working at Spurlock so far. Sheri and Chiara have been a dream to plan with, and their excitement for this event just reinforces why I LOVE to partner with people across University spaces. Academia can be very isolating, and experiences like these really lovely.
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