Kids Turn Trash to Art, Thanks to Local Business

by Jill Larner, CalMAX Coordinator

Since 1997 the Children's Museum of Los Angeles has regularly placed the same listing with CalMAX:

 Wanted:
"Paper, cardstock, rolls, sheets, etc. Will take any size, shape, color of scrap paper or die-cut material. For example: circles, squares, geometric, punched-out scraps."

One impressive result: the diversion of over 15 tons of paper, wood, plastics and other art materials from landfills in 1999 alone. These materials and more are used by children in resourceful, unique, and fun art projects—more than 600 projects per day!!

The Children's Museum, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, is dedicated to offering a hands-on, participatory environment for children ages 2 to 12. Fifteen permanent exhibits help young visitors demystify the science of every day life. The Kaleidoscope lets kids create their own design, multiply it, and watch while a captivating pattern emerges with the use of lights and rotating mirrors. At the Lou Alder Recording Studio, kids create their own audio-tape from a song or story, complete with sound effects. The "Story of Water" lets children play with water while it answers questions about where water comes from and how it travels uphill.

In addition to providing educational and entertaining activities for children, the museum also helps divert waste materials from landfills through its commitment to reuse of materials for arts and education. Several exhibits incorporate recycled materials and teach about recycled-content products. At the Recycle Art Studio, kids use donated "scrap" materials and their imagination to make two and three-dimensional creations that they can take home. At Club Eco, kids make a recycled-paper medallion and learn where paper comes from. Visitors can purchase "Recycle Art Kits" that contain recycled materials to create art projects at home. Two of these kits, the Kaleidoscope Kit and the Doll Kit, won Parent’s Choice Awards for creativity.

A CalMAX user since 1997, the museum has established several ongoing relationships with local businesses that regularly provide materials. Herman JBL, Inc. in Northridge gives the museum discards from its speaker manufacturing business—round wood pieces the kids use to make rubber stamps. Western Pacific Pulp & Paper in Downey provides pallets loaded with many types of industrial waste paper that visitors can use in their hands-on projects. Helen Marish, manager of recycle and product development states, "A lot of our materials were discovered through CALMAX, and in the past we’ve gotten many calls from businesses wanting to donate excess because of CalMAX."

Such exchange relationships keep the recycled arts program going and have spurred the official opening of the museum's School and Community Resource for Art Projects program, or SCRAP. SCRAP has been an unofficial materials exchange program at the museum for the past five years. Created to educate teachers on the benefits of using reusable materials in the classroom, it is also a resource for artists, community groups, hospitals, and other museums. Materials such as cones, tubes, wood, sponge, holographic paper, stickers, ribbon, colorful paper, leather, mat board, fabric, feathers, maps, buttons, beads, and other safe and interesting materials of every size and description are available for use in art projects. Helen says, "The Children's Museum has found that reusing materials for art is a necessary part of our curriculum—it is exciting, engaging, and a lot of fun for everyone. We are happy to be able to offer these wonderful supplies to other schools, museums, and art groups through SCRAP."

In addition to organizing the exhibits and other special events, the museum sponsors a variety of programs for underserved and at-risk children in the multicultural Southern California community. The "Yes, You Can" program provides free field trips for schools and other child-centered groups that could not afford a field trip for their students otherwise. The "Families Together!" program provides free, two-year memberships to at-risk families referred by social service agencies such as Head Start, parenting programs, and homeless shelters. The museum also offers outreach programs serving children at schools, festivals, and in other public settings.

Kudos to the Children's Museum of Los Angeles for its contribution to the lives of California's children and its commitment to the use of recycled materials. Businesses wanting to help the Children's Museum of Los Angeles may do so by donating nontoxic scrap materials, providing ideas or samples of recycled art, volunteering, or becoming a museum member. The museum is located at 310 North Main Street in downtown Los Angeles at the north end of the Los Angeles Mall. It is directly east of the United States district courthouse and one block northeast of the Los Angeles city hall. Phone (213) 687-8800 for admission and reservation information. For questions on SCRAP! or to make an appointment to visit, call (213) 687-8800, ext. 122.

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Last updated: August 01, 2008