Reincarnated Rubbish

 We saw an interesting exhibition at the Brampton Museum in Newcastle-Under-Lyme over the weekend.

The artist Val Hunt used recycled objects to create the pieces which depict extinct and endangered species. 

As a creative recycler she uses all sort of objects in her work.  Things like foil trays, old computer parts,  metal drinks cans and discarded babies' dummies.

Below are some of the exhibits that caught my eye.

Caspian the War Horse was made from skip wood, three hundred and sixty Coventry Evening Telegraphs, drinks cans and charity shop wool.  The Caspian breed of horse is critically endangered.

 

Cuckoo, Barn Owl, Lapwing, House Sparrow and Nightingale (all endangered)  This exhibit is called 'A Conference of Endangered Birds discussing their future'.

Puffin (endangered)

 

Anomalocaris (extinct) - a large predator of the Cambrian era.  Made with Coke cans.

 

Sabre Tooth Tiger (extinct) made from drinks cans

Ichthyosaur (below) and Opthalmosaurus (above)

both reptiles and both extinct.

Blue finned Tuna fish (endangered)

 

Giant Tortoise (endangered)

Leather-back turtle (endangered)

 

Chameleon (endangered) made from bottle tops

Terror Bird or Phorusrhacids (extinct) made with drinks, cans, skip wood, paper flyers and posters from the Edinburgh Fringe.

Terror bird again

Hats and Headwear

 

My favourite hat - the Helter-Skelter hat.

After looking at the exhibition and the rest of the museum we had tea and cake in the museum's Little Vintage Tea room.

 

I didn't take a photo inside but this is the outside seating area. 

Whilst I'm on the Subject

I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the subject of global warming and what we can do as householders to be more energy efficient and to save water; and also help by recycling. Luckily our council has fortnightly collections for paper, tin cans and glass but not as yet for plastic or tetra packs which is a concern. They also do a garden refuse collection every two weeks during the spring and summer and they always empty the household wheelie bin every Monday including Easter and Bank Holidays the only time we don’t get a collection is Christmas week, when extra bags are delivered to cope – so all in all a very good service.

For ourselves we try to conserve water and energy as much as possible but still our monthly energy payment has doubled in the last year. We have gas central heating with no extra fires anywhere. The oven and hob are electric; we don’t have a tumble drier or a dish washer and use energy efficient light bulbs where ever we can. We are guilty of leaving the video recorder on but that is because we use the clock and because it is a pain to reset if you switch it off. The refrigerator is C rated for energy efficiency so I guess when we buy a new one we could look to getting an A or better.

In the kitchen we have a compost waste bin under the sink as well as an ordinary household one and I try to use mostly Ecover products for washing and cleaning. I also have a large jug in which to collect any fresh water and use it to water the indoor plants. In the garden we have three water butts collecting water all year for use in the summer for watering the greenhouse and garden and topping up the pond. We also have a large compost bin. We encourage garden birds by having a feeding station and birdbath; we have a pond and a wild area with a log pile for other wildlife and try to grow insect friendly plants like sedum and buddleia. We have one small car whose emissions are acceptable to regulations. We try to buy locally produced seasonal fruit and vegetables, make our own bread with organic flour and buy organic milk and eggs. Just a drop in the ocean, I know, but if we all try and do our bit perhaps we can achieve just a little change for the better.