Nevada artists bring new life to recyclables
CARSON CITY, NV – The Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Nevada Recycles Program partnered with The Venetian Resort Las Vegas to sponsor a statewide recycled art contest to raise awareness of recycling. In support of Earth Day’s 2018 campaign to End Plastic Pollution, this year’s projects were required to be composed of used, or found plastic materials.
More than 190 artists from eight counties statewide, ranging from students in kindergarten through 12th grade, to adults and professional artists, submitted photos of their artwork composed of recyclable plastic materials. Entries included a diversity of innovative designs and imaginative artwork.
Entries were judged based on overall appearance, originality, workmanship and use of recyclable material. The winners are:
K-5
1st Place - Plastic Whale by Makenzie M. of Elko
2nd Place - Plastic Ocean by Allie E. of Elko
3rd Place - Arc de Plastic by Sean T. of Carson City
6-8
1st Place - Whale Watching by Anthony F. of Las Vegas
2nd Place - Plastelina by Shellie Z of Las Vegas
3rd Place - Recycled Art Corgi by Peyton C. of Las Vegas
9-12
1st Place - Octopus by Aayan P. of Reno
2nd Place - King of Trash by Jose G. of West Wendover
3rd Place - The Slaughterhouse by Manuel A. of West Wendover
Honorable Mention: Bloom for the Future by Kim R. of Pahrump
Adult
1st Place – Phoenix: Rise from the Plastic by Bretta Leach of Carson City
2nd Place – Jellyfishes by Ailene Pasco of Las Vegas
3rd Place – Untitled by Marian Rasfeld of Las Vegas
Class/Club
1st Place – Imagine School Bus by DreAuna V, Jayda M., Laeloni J., Angria A., Taniyah M. and Edgar Mendez of Ms. Scott’s 5th grade class of 100 Academy of Excellence in Las Vegas.
Honorable Mention: Our Funky Garden by Torri Conley’s 7th grade students of Churchill County Middle School.
Professional Artist
1st Place – Midway: In Memoriam by Jodi Lurie Schultz of West Wendover.
All Contest entries may be viewed on the Nevada Recycles program Flickr page, www.flickr.com/photos/nevadarecycles/albums.
In 2017, Nevada’s recycling rate was 21%. Nevadans (including the tourist population) throw away about six pounds of trash, per person, per day. That’s about three million tons of trash going to a landfill every year.
“We’re thrilled that the recycled art contest attracted such an impressive collection of creative recycled art pieces from artists throughout Nevada. We hope that the contest has helped to inspire Nevadans, both young and old, to make recycling a way of life,” said Pranav Jampani, Director of Sustainability for The Venetian, The Palazzo and Sands Expo.