Recycled and found materials
5m (length)
2021
Fiona was commissioned to create this artwork by SPAEDA (Somerset Partnership Arts Education Agency) for Eastover Primary School, Bridgwater, Somerset, UK. The theme of Eastover’s Art week was Ocean Plastic. The school took part in a 3 day workshop with Fiona Campbell to create elements, which Fiona combined to create this permanent wall mounted relief celebrating ocean life.
The Sea Life theme focused on plastic in our oceans, the water cycle and interconnectedness from micro to macro. Inspired by the film My Octopus Teacher, Fiona worked with young children (Years 3-6) to make small sea creatures and parts for the Octopus, using recycled and found materials including copper wire and colourful plastic objects. They looked at Ernst Haeckel’s illustrations of the incredible variety of sea creatures.
Students learnt to use a range of skills (cutting, twisting, wrapping, weaving) with specialist tools, related to recycling, environment and nature’s diversity.
The Octopus has a chickenwire base structure. Twine, fruit nets, beads, bottle tops, springs, washers, small toys, plastic bags and bottles were transformed into diatoms, jellyfish, fish, starfish, nudibranchs, algae and hybrid forms.
The children recycled everyday materials and learnt about keeping plastic out of drains and rivers so that they don’t reach the ocean.
© Copyright Fiona Campbell. All rights reserved, 2021
Eastover’s Young Arts Ambassadors with their ocean wall.
Photo by Steve Richardson
Fiona with pupil and Octopus
Photo by Alice Crane
Young students with their ocean wall.
Photo by Steve Richardson
Eastover’s Young Arts Ambassadors, staff, SPAEDA Director Alice Crane and Associate Artist, Fiona Campbell with their ocean environment, inspired by the film ‘My Octopus Teacher’
Photo by Steve Richardson