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Definition of Paper
It is a type of material which is made into thin sheets mechanically or with chemical processing.  It comes from the pulp of wood or other fibrous material such as rags, grasses and vegetable sources in water.  The water in these substances is drained through a fine mess, followed by pressing and drying.  Paper is a versatile material which can be used for writing, drawing, printing, artwork, toilet tissue, currency, and wrapping items. It is also used in industrial and construction processes (Britannica, 2023a).

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Light stimulates our sense of vision and helps us to see things by using our eyes.  There are two types of light: a natural source of light (i.e., sun) or an artificial source of light (i.e., lamp).  The natural source of light is produced by electromagnetic radiation that can be detected by the eye.

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A natural material found on earth which is powdery when dry, can be moulded when moist, and hard when baked in a high temperature. It is made from mainly fine mineral particles; it can be used for many things such as making brick, tiles, and pottery.

"Clays are soft mineral substances, a product of weathered volcanic ash. Clay is formed as a result of volcanic activity subjected to environmental influences (physical and chemical) over a period of time" (enviromedica, n.d.).

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Junk is usually old or discarded and not valued.  It is often considered useless.  However, junk is valuable to some people as they upcycle it to make something else.

There is another type of 'junk' which is a Chinese boat which originated in the 13th century.  We are not referring to this type of vessel in this presentation.

There is another definition using the term junk which is well known to all in the modern era 'junk food'; food which is discretionary or optional food. Food commonly that is not nutrimental but tastes yummy.  We will not be talking about this definition today however, we may use the containers which had junk food in them to create our 'Junk Art".

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The Egyptian writing sheet called papyrus was the first paper-like plant-based writing sheet.  However, China has been acknowledged as the first authentic papermaking process in the Eastern Han period (25-220AD). During the 8th century, the Islamic world also began making paper (replacing papyrus) and in the 11th Century it spread to Europe (which replaced animal skin-based parchment).  By the 13th Century in Spain, waterwheels papermills refined the process.   By the 19th Century, the invention of wood-based papermills improved the quality of paper (Britannica, 2023).

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The study of light or optics as it is known has fascinated intellectuals over thousands of years.  Many early scientists/philosophers considered optics as a key focus in the study of natural sciences and has been so for over 3000 years. There are four distinct eras beginning in Athens in Greece.

Greece (Athens (800BC to 200AD)

Islamic Civilisation in Baghdad and Cordoba (mid to late 13th Century)

Europe (14th Century)

20th Century (revolution communication technology and optics) (Subairy, 2016)

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Throughout ancient history, clay has been used topically for soothing the skin, as well as internally for gastrointestinal issues. Aristotle (384–322 BC) made the first reference to the deliberate eating of clay, earth, or soil by humans (for therapeutic and religious purposes) (Britannica, 2023b).

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During the 20th Century Art began to change and move away from traditional styles.  Artists began to use junk as a source to create art. Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968) is officially known as the first junk artist by making his creations from rubbish discarded.  Other well-known artists, such as Richard Rauschenberg, used "scrap metal, broken machinery, timber, or other waste materials". The term "junk art" was determined by the British art critic Lawrence Alloway in 1961 (United under Arts, n.d.).

In the modern era of 20th and 21st centuries, it is common to recycle 'junk' and reuse the material which was discarded by someone. This is particularly applicable during difficult times such as the World Wars or COVID pandemic where items were limited and rationed.

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As I was visited the National Gallery Victoria (NGV), I was interested by this optics artwork.  It was showing a reflection through mirrors; for each mirror a circle was moving, and the mirror created a reflection while at the same time changed the colour of the circle.  This clever demonstration created an illusion with light.

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Quote:
"In these three ecologies, we encountered clay as “a site of invention” (Stengers, Manning, & Massumi, 2009, p. 3) where the pragmatics of our questions were “much more alive, more vivid, more difficult to forget” (p. 3) than any truth about clay" (Pacini-Ketchabaw, Kind & Kocher, 2016, p. 63).

This quote highlights the importance of hands-on learning and interacting with materials like clay. It suggests that asking practical questions and actively engaging with the material can offer a richer learning experience. The focus is on the dynamic, interactive learning process where engagement and exploration are key.

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Here I am exploring the light,
Gathering my thoughts
Then the sun illuminates the box.

Then the reflection appeared on box
It was filled with colour facing down,
Then my imagination has begun.

I began to move the objects in different angles,
There I see the reflection.
My art has been created.

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References

Alexander, N. P. (1995). ERIC - EJ510661 - Turning On the Light: Thinking about Lighting Issues in Child Care., Child Care Information Exchange, 1995. ERIC. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ510661

Britannica. (2023b). Clay | Definition, Formation, Properties, Uses, & Facts. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/clay-geology

Britannica. (2023a). Paper | Definition, Papermaking, & Facts. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/paper

Duchamp, M., & Schwitters, K. (2020). Junk Art — United Under Arts. United Under Arts. https://www.unitedunderarts.org/blog/junk-art

Explorations in light — Better Kid Care — Penn State Extension. (2023). Penn State Extension. https://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare/early-care/tip-pages/all/explorations-in-light

Pacini-Ketchabaw, V., Kind, S., Kocher, L., Wapenaar, K., & Kim, B. (2014). MATERIAL ENCOUNTERS. Encounters with Materials. https://encounterswithmaterials.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/MaterialEncounters-CC15_Nov2021UPD-for-web.pdf

Pacini-Ketchabaw, V., Kind, S., & Kocher, L. L. M. (2016). Encounters With Materials in Early Childhood Education. Taylor & Francis.

PennState Extension. (2023). Absorption / reflection of sunlight. Understanding Global Change. https://ugc.berkeley.edu/background-content/reflection-absorption-sunlight/

Zybairy, M. S. (2016). A Very Brief History of Light. Optics in our time, 3-24.

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While I was exploring with light, I found it interesting as I gathered the objects to create the light.  I was able to build an understanding of light by learning the many ways light can come from a natural source or an artificial source.

It was apparent that the sun which gives us light provides much of the energy on earth. Without the sun we would not be able to survive (University of California, 2023).

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The concept of movement through a reflection
I moved the box into different positions to find how the sun would reflect on the box. As I moved the box, the reflection changed e.g., the shadow looked different. I moved the box in relation to how the sun faced

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I was experimenting with the clay rolling like a ball and flattening it to create the circle and using the natural resources such as a leaf to create imprint artwork.

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When I was exploring the use of junk, I created a musical instrumental using a recycled can with a paper towel, a pebble and a rubber band. I put the pebble in the can and then covered the can with the paper towel and placed a rubber band to hold the towel down.  When shaking the 'maraca' it sounded quite loud.

The concept of movement was used throughout by putting the materials together to make the instrument, my hand movement to play the instrument, and the pebble movement to make the instrument sound.

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My junk submarine (or is it a car?)
Many techniques were used to create this artwork of a submarine.  I first gathered together the following recycled materials: a variety of lids sizes; a cardboard box; a pringle cylinder container; a paper towel; sticky tape. After putting the parts together, using junk such as this reminds me that you can create anything you want.  This may look like a car to some people but not to me.  It depends on the person's perspective what the artwork is and means to them.

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So often, paper is regarded as a surface that we use to hold messages, lists, marks, meanings, drawings, paintings, stories, news" (Pacini-Ketchabaw, Kind & Kocher, 2016, p. 30).

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As I begin to crunch the paper, I felt the texture was rough.  I made little movements with my whole hand, which created a sound - it shrunk and formed a circle shape.  I then unfolded the paper and made it flat as much as I could to its original square shape. It transformed into another look with lines from different angles: colliding, overlapping or sometimes parallel.

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I made this paper flower using different techniques:
- I first scrunched up the paper
- I flattened out the paper and lines were now visible
- I started cutting out the petals into oval shapes and cut  the centre for the flower
- I then assembled the parts to a circle shape giving the image of a flower.

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I have a deeper understanding and interest in paper more recently.  I have found a connection with it by learning how to use it in a variety of ways and that it has been in civilisation for thousands of years.  I now see paper with a different perspective, being more creative and learning how it can be manipulated in different ways.

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Here I am.
As I go through my thoughts
The paper is in front of me.
Feeling the soft texture

My creation has begun.
I scrunch the paper over and over.
Building my creation

Feeling nature around me
I began to snip snip.
And here's my flower that begins to grow.

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The movement of paper
"Paper has its own inclinations. It acts on and with the water, with the walls, the floors, the door... It becomes known by how it floats; how it gets slimy... how it feels; how it slips off; what it does; how it moves" (Pacini-Ketchabaw, Kind & Kocher, 2016, p. 30).

It also connects with the movement of my body because as I was experimenting with paper to make my flower, I realised that I needed to use my body in different ways - by using my finger to squish the paper, and the strength in my arm to cut and shape the paper.

I have learnt that paper can be used to represent my artistic ideas such as a 2D and 3D figure or origami (a Japanese art of paper folding).

You can do so many things with paper. It is sustainably friendly and can be recycled as well as used for...
- writing and printing
- books/magazine printing
- artwork such as sketching/ drawing
- labels and packaging
- education and learning
- composting
- research and documentation
- musical instruments

Some problems with paper:
- it yellows and fades
- during humid weather it can curl
- it is light so it moves easily and changes location with a breeze or wind, or even with movement of people in a room
- the drying of a tape holding paper onto a surface will make it move or be affected by gravity and fall..

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I have found a new connection with junk.  Since researching this topic, I find I am looking and thinking different thoughts.  How could this junk be used in art?  Almost everything I see could be used as there are infinitive possibilities.  Today I saw an old drink can discarded on the side of the road. I knew that it meant nothing to the person who left it there, but I could use it in my next art creation.

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I used movement in this video: it was critical to the get the end result of the video. To make the movement I took multiple pictures of the clay in different positions.  Clay is ideal to use as it can be shaped and manipulated in many ways. You change the position or move the clay in little increments taking pictures.  When putting all the pictures together one after each other, it gives the allusion that the clay is moving.

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After my visit to the National Gallery Victoria (NGV), I was inspired to find out more about light. It is a fascinating topic for young children. There are two aspects to light that we should consider: lighting within the early childhood setting and giving students opportunities to learn and investigate what light is and how it is all around us.  Alexander (1995) comments that it is important to plan how you will organise light from bright to dimly lit rooms in the early childhood setting. it is very welcoming for children and families to arrive and work in bright natural light.

Additionally, there are many ways children can explore what light can do and what it is, this in turn helps the children understand the importance of light in our lives. Some ideas could be using flashlights in a dimly lit room, using dark fabric near light sources (e.g., windows), or trace children's shadows when outside (Pennsylvania State University, 2023)

What can you do with light? The possibilities are endless when considering all the options to investigate light. Below are some of the key points about light, such as light is important for our growth and for plants to survive.  Light (from the sun) can assist with drying and evaporation for the change in weather. It is also important for temperature regulation which supports the health and well-being of humans. Light can also be used in healthcare as it is used in medical equipment to support individual needs of patients. Light/s are also critical in the use of communications, for example signal boxes for trains travelling safely.

What can't you do with light? Light is not always visible to us so you cannot easily do hands-on activities such as arts and craft. It is a scientific phenomenon which does not always allow exact measurement with the human eye but requires scientist tools or instruments to precisely measure its impact.

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My journey with experimenting with junk I have learnt that even with discarded items, you can still make something out of it to become art.  The "On Tap" sculpture  is a good example of this as the artist, Simon Perry, used recycled material.  Interesting, the artist defined it as a tap with water, but some people could view it as stylised swans' neck and beak, which is a different perspective on the artists' work.

What role will recycle items have in the child's creative learning? Creative artwork can be defined as spontaneous, open-ended, and frequently messy learning of colour or texture with no adult guidance or participation (Pelo, 2017, p. 1). In Outcome 4 from the Early Years Learning Framework [EYLF], it also highlights the importance of open-ended learning of discovery for the children as the explore their own ideas and interest as they become confident learners (p. 26).

What can you do with Junk?  Well... what can't you do with junk. You can do anything with junk, you can make any creation. With junk you can be as imaginative as you want to be. Junk has been used not only for art but for fashion and useful items around the house such as vases, light covers, ornaments, bags, and jewellery; in fact, the list is endless and only depends on your imagination.

What can you not do with Junk? Some junk is not recyclable but that does not mean you can't use it for artist purposes. So, some items which are not recyclable can be recyclable if you are using them for art.

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My connection with clay began with my childhood. When I was young around 10-years-old, I started to experiment with clay by using different movements such as pushing it, rolling it and shaping it with my hands to create my own artwork. It reminded me of cooking as I love to make the dough for bread. My interest in this material remained with me as an adult and I now like to use clay with the children at my childhood centre.

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My concept of movement linked to clay:
Movement links to clay; when we play with clay it is moving into different angles. It does not stay in one place, it has plasticity and can be bent, pulled or squashed, unless you fire it.

I have learnt throughout my journey with clay that this natural material can be used for a range of purposes from everyday items we need in our kitchen (e.g., pottery and ceramic bowls) to expressing myself in an artistic way to  make artwork and to build our homes; additionally, many people around the world use it as a therapeutic and healing source as it is used in the beauty and healing industry.

The things you can do with Clay is that it can be manipulated in different ways such as rolling, patting, putting, squeezing, moulding - to create different shapes.  You can change the texture by adding water which will make the clay a lighter colour and softer in texture (Pacini-Ketchabaw, Kind & Kocher, 2016, p. 63).

Things you cannot do with clay:
- treat it roughly, or it will break (once it is fired).
- it can creak overtime and then turn to dust.
- it does not stay the same size after it dries, as it shrinks.