Plastic bag kite a comment on society’s dependence on plastic

There appears to be some misunderstanding about the purpose of the plastic bag kite we made on June 18 on the BICS field. The project was not “for the children”, as Ken Beatty wrote in last week’s Undercurrent; it was artistic commentary on our culture’s dependence on and disapproval of plastic, done by adults, for everyone.

What actually happened was the following: I host a weekly art gathering where people of all ages gather to make art together. This week we made earth-art in the meadow; last week there were 25 of us tie-dyeing. The week before that (June 18) only 3 of us gathered (plus 4 children) and we made plastic bag art. Plastic bag art can almost not happen without being a commentary on our current cultural use and rejection of plastic bags. And that’s great! It so happened that a wonderful ceremony was planned for the trees I grew up with at BICS and that ceremony was to be held – when else – during our art gathering. Not only was it a ceremony I would not miss, but the reason the trees were being cut down was to build an artificial turf playing field. Out of this wonderful coincidence of events, the idea to make artistic commentary was born.

While making the kite we did talk to many passers-by. We asked questions about the intended artificial playing field,and we explained to anyone interested, including Ken Beatty, that what we were doing was not a protest, but social commentary as part of our weekly art gathering. There is a time for protesting, and this would not have been it.

We made the kite, we paused to enjoy the ceremony with our children, and then two of us flew the kite around the field for a while before leaving. We also sent the kite flying with some happy BICS kids, who, I believe, were quite unaware of the social commentary aspect of the piece. I quite enjoyed the process, as well as the outcome. I am grateful to Andrea Mackay and Florrie Levine for having arranged such a beautiful ceremony. Further, my personal thoughts about artificial turf have very little to do with our plastic-bag kite. Art can be a means of encouraging conversation. I feel it’s my responsibility as an artist to encourage conversation, and I often do it via public art. I’m glad this time was such a success.

Emily van Lidth de Jeude