3M: Mangrove Mosaic Magic
Event Location: Cocoa-FL
Competition: Energy Inspired Art
Division: 3-5
School: Orlando Science East
Team Name: Mighty Orcas
Project Name: 3M: Mangrove Mosaic Magic
Team Size: 1
Photo & Basic Info
Team or art project name: Mosaic Art “3M: Mangrove Mosaic Magic”
Name of the School: Orlando Science -East Campus
First name(s) and last initials of students on the team (no last names on the public page): Avika M.
Grade level of each team member: Grade 4
A photo of the completed art project or team (use this as the Featured Image on your page): Please see Artifact 1 (and featured image) below for image of my work.
About me :
Hello Everyone!
My name is Avika M. and I’m in 4th grade at Orlando Science Charter School-K-8, East Campus. I really love STEM and talking about it! I also care a lot about the planet (my mom’s name means “The Earth”!) and I enjoy art, colors, music, dance, and martial arts. I went to TLE when I was younger, and I’ve been helping out with projects to make our community cleaner since I was in grade 3. Right now, I’m learning classical dance and working hard to earn my black belt in martial arts, which is a big challenge! I’ve learned that we can’t achieve anything without hard work and perseverance. We always need a plan and the effort to make it happen. That is why, at our home we make the right choices to make sure we recycle right.
When I’m not doing any of these activities, I love to read!
My Energy Inspired Project:
For this Energy Inspired Art Project, I made a mosaic artwork on Mangroves. I gave it a title “3M: Mangrove Mosaic Magic.” The idea for this artwork came from when one day I was sorting the recycle and I noticed that not all recycle symbols were for recycle. Some said check locally. I found out that some board boxes like milk canister,cream, some cereal boxes may have a wax or plastic coating which prevents them from being recycled with regular paper. That is why they are send to landfill and treated like waste. It bothered me and I wondered what can I do ? That is when I thought I can use dry and clean parts into craft work rather than card stock paper which is also very expensive. Then, I saw a mosaic painting and really liked the colors.
I chose to make my artwork on Mangroves because I believe mangroves are truly special. They are almost magical. I say that in addition to fixing carbon dioxide like other plants do, mangroves also hold 10 times the carbon in the muddy roots and soil. The dense roots and marshes where mangroves grow does not contain oxygen. Thus, the carbon stays as carbon. For this reason, they are also called as blue carbon collectors, because they sequester carbon in their native ecosystem. This can really fight global warming and climate change and some countries are planting more mangroves to purify the environment. This artwork is to create awareness around this problem of global warning and the problem of not recycling correctly because one bad box and spoil the entire load of recycle. Finally, I chose the sunset to plea all of us to “sunset” the bad habits and make our planet healthier for my generation and beyond.
I hope you like my artwork.
thank you,
Avika M.
I have been working hard on this project for quite some time and since I am the only one working, it is taking longer. I went through a step-wise process.
Step1: I made the observation about the recycle symbol (Artifact 1)
Step2: I then researched information about why coated board boxes were not recycled and why is it important to sort the recycle. I looked up how to do mosaic art and also why mangroves. You might wonder how are slimy muddy waters of mangroves related to climate change? Well, in addition to fixing carbon dioxide like other plants do, mangroves also hold 10 times the carbon in the muddy roots and soil. The dense roots and marshes where mangroves grow does not contain oxygen. Thus, the carbon stays as carbon. For this reason, they are also called as blue carbon collectors, because they sequester carbon in their native ecosystem. This can really fight global warming and climate change and some countries are planting more mangroves to purify the environment. (Artifact 2)
Step3: Next, I drew a scene to put my thoughts together and started collecting different colored coated board boxes. I would cut the pieces and sort them by the color. Then I started gluing pieces to the paper to get the sunset image I was seeking. (Artifact 3).
Artifact 4 : I then described my idea and project in this Artifact 4.
The finished art piece : my mosaic art (Please see artifact 1 or play Artifact 4-video, where I have described the project)
The intended message of the art piece: As described above, the purpose of mosaic art is to create awareness about what mangroves do for us using mosaic tiles that are plasticized paper board that can not be recycled and increases the trash in the land fill. The mangroves lock the carbon in its anaerobic roots much like I have locked in this plasticized paper in this art. Mangroves are like a magic wand that holds the carbon and doesn’t allow formation of carbon dioxide thus decreasing or keeping global warming in check and impact climate change which I strongly believe will be number 1 problem for my generation.
Why this medium was selected: I chose to work on this this art work because I enjoy art so I knew even with hard work, I will complete it . I wanted to show a sunset to put an end to the bad habits people have of not recycling or not reading the label.
Each team member’s contribution to the project: I am the only member of this team. I did the research, brain-storming, cutting and artwork. The biggest challenge is the small cuttings and gluing since I have worked on this project every weekend for the last 5 months. The availability of the coated boards of the color I want can sometimes be challenging too.
Additional details: I have described my journey on this project above. I want to take a moment to share in this space, a big shout out to all my teachers at Timber Lakes Elementary , Orlando Science East and my family who helped me with continuous support to think about the various aspects of the project. I also want to thank Energy Whiz for providing this platform to students to share our thoughts in multiple ways.
Artifact 4. Introduction and description of the project
Great information on mangroves and connecting it to your art.
Lovely, kudos to you Avika .
Keep up the work and bring laurels. I am proud of you .