APRIL 11 TO OCTOBER 31, 2015
Introducing Second Nature … an array of artist installations, some
larger than life, each one telling stories of endangered animals through
the use of recycled, reduced, reused, repurposed and renewed materials.
APRIL 11 TO OCTOBER 31, 2015
Burned-out spark plugs, recycled plastic bottles, cardboard boxes and wads
of chewing gum. Through an unconventional new art exhibit, opening at the
Philadelphia Zoo in April 2015, making everyday choices that help wildlife
around the globe will be Second Nature.
In Second Nature, artists from all over the world recycle, reuse and repurpose
everyday materials into amazing works of animal-inspired sculpture. From
a totemic 13-foot-tall blue gorilla sculpted entirely of recycled car parts to a
175-pound rhinoceros made of serving plates; from an evocative primate
shadow-sculpture composed by casting a beam of light on a pile of discarded
electronics to a menacing 8-foot-long alligator molded from (brace yourself)
chewing gum, Second Nature will intrigue, delight and engage Zoo visitors
in the small things we humans can do to make a world of difference for
endangered animals and habitats.
Each of the artistic installations in Second Nature will unleash the creative
imaginations of 12 international artists to forge a connection between human
behavior and animal endangerment through larger-than-life works of art. From
two giant nine-foot-tall pink rabbits – each weighing more than 250 pounds –
to a six-inch hummingbird made up of more than 40 machine parts, the art and
artists of Second Nature will engage, amaze and inspire so that reducing,
reusing and recycling become Second Nature to all of us.
Saving Energy to Save Wildlife
The pulp and paper manufacturing industry is among the world’s largest users of
energy, emitters of greenhouse gases and a significant source of water pollution
and landfill waste. Simple changes in our everyday lives like reducing and recycling
paper, help save energy and ultimately, save wildlife and precious habitat.
APRIL 11 TO OCTOBER 31, 2015
Don Kennell
Santa Fe, New Mexico
SCULPTURE(S):Blue gorilla
MATERIALS: Recycled car steel
SIZE:
13’ tall; 900 lbs.
An oversized gorilla made of recycled car doors connects recycling to the future of gorillas in the wild. This demonstration
reminds visitors that saving energy by recycling is just one way to save gorillas and other animals whose ecosystems are
affected by climate change.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Don Kennell works in a variety of formats but often employs up-cycled materials that make connections
between the natural world, environment and human behavior. In the last two years Don has completed monumental projects
for the Coachella Music and Art Festival in Indio, CA. Public commissions include sculptures for the cities of Santa Fe, NM;
Longmont, CO; Bernalillo County, NM and Pinedale, WY as well as New Jersey Transit, Please Touch Museum and many others.
In 2000, he was distinguished by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Millenium Artist.
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APRIL 11 TO OCTOBER 31, 2015
Cracking Art Group
Milan, Italy
SCULPTURE(S):Fuchsia rabbits (2); red snails (3); yellow bird (1); green frogs (8); orange meerkats (12); blue bears (8)
MATERIALS: Recycled plastic
SIZE:
2-9’ tall; 22-260 lbs.
Colorful and towering rabbits, meerkats, frogs, birds, snails and bears made from recycled plastic play hide-and-seek across the Zoo’s
grounds. Plastic is the largest contributor of waste in the world. The six international artists of the Cracking Arts Group have traveled
the world to share their environmental commitment through this innovative use of recycled materials.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Cracking Art Group consists of Renzo Nucara, Carlo Rizzetti, Marco Veronese, Alex Angi, Kicco and William
Sweetlove. Since the 1993 birth of Cracking Art Movement with Epocale exhibition in Milan, these six international artists underline
their intention to change art history through both a strong social and environmental commitment through the revolutionary and
innovative use of different plastic materials.
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APRIL 11 TO OCTOBER 31, 2015
FLUX Foundation
San Francisco, California
SCULPTURE(S):“Bloom”, a tree sprouting flowers and butterflies
MATERIALS: Repurposed car parts, kitchen tools, traffic signals, HVAC ducts, artificial turf and road plate
SIZE:
35’ tall; 9,000 lbs.
An outrageous arrangement of butterflies and flowers, made of recycled car hoods, kitchen tools, traffic signals, HVAC ducts,
artificial turf and road plate, suggests that recycling benefits butterflies. This spectacle is intended to establish a connection
between our actions, animals and shared environment.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: FLUX’s mission is to engage people in designing and building public art as a catalyst for education,
collaboration and empowerment. FLUX is grounded in collaborative work, this is evident not only in their process, but in the
interactive nature of their work. Since FLUX’s inception in 2010, they have created 12 collaborative interactive installations
and cultivated a community of over 200 volunteers.
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APRIL 11 TO OCTOBER 31, 2015
Laurence Vallieres
Montreal, Canada
SCULPTURE(S):Gorilla to be built onsite at Philadelphia Zoo
MATERIALS: Recycled cardboard
SIZE:
9’ tall; TBD
Gorillas in the wild are threatened due to loss of habitat from the harvesting of timber for paper products. This giant-sized gorilla
made from cardboard boxes collected in here, in Philadelphia, will be built onsite at Philadelphia Zoo in April to inspire guests
to use less paper and packaging.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Born in Québec city, Laurence Vallieres studied at Concordia University in visual arts before doing an
exchange program in Los Angeles to further her knowledge in ceramics. After an artist residency in Russia, she began incorporating
street art influence in her work and using cardboard to create large sculptures on the spot in many different parts of the world.
In 2012, she organized a show called Transmute for Montreal’s Winter Festival, which led to her first solo show at galerie d’art
Yves Laroche in Montreal. In the past year, Vallières has shown notably in the United States, France and Germany.
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APRIL 11 TO OCTOBER 31, 2015
Diem Chau
Seattle, Washington
SCULPTURE(S):24 crayons carved into endangered species accompanied by 24 letter crayons
MATERIALS: Repurposed Crayola crayons
SIZE:
5.5” tall; 8.5 lbs. (per set of two including wooden base)
Two packs of Crayola crayons skillfully carved into endangered animals and accompanying letters bring a new sense of wonder
to an everyday object. Some of the unique species included are: Amur tiger, Sumatran orangutan, Western Lowland gorilla, Chinese
alligator, Panamanian golden frog, Galapagos tortoise and many more! The carvings are folkloric, evoking totems and allegories
and bringing a sense of wonder with their executed intricacy.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Diem Chau, a Vietnam native, combines common mediums and common means to create tiny worlds with
a balance of cheerful colors and fragility. Her work has been featured in New York Times, Harpers Magazine, Fiberarts Magazine,
Readymade Magazine and American Craft Magazine. She was the recipient of the 2008 Artist Trust Fellowship Award and has
exhibited in New York, Milan, Chicago, Seattle and Los Angeles.
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APRIL 11 TO OCTOBER 31, 2015
Aurora Robson
New York, New York
SCULPTURE(S):Abstract overhead sculpture
MATERIALS: Plastic bottles
SIZE:
11’ tall; 150-200 lbs.
To be suspended in the airy atrium of the McNeil Avian Center, this abstract sculpture is made from over 4,000 plastic bottles.
It took six months to build this sculpture and reuse the materials – all of which were diverted from going into the trash. It would
have taken nearly 1,000 years for the plastic bottles in the sculpture to decompose if they had ended up in the trash.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Aurora Robson is a multi-media artist known for her transformative work intercepting the waste stream.
A subtle but determined environmental activist, Robson raises awareness about plastic pollution through art. She was born in
Toronto and grew up in Hawaii. After living and working in NYC for 20+ years, she relocated to the Hudson Valley. She double
majored in visual art/art history at Columbia University. Robson exhibits internationally, and has been featured in Art in America,
Art & Antiques, Green Building + Design magazine and more. She is a recipient of the Pollock Krasner Grant and a New York
Foundation for the Arts Fellowship in sculpture and the TED/Lincoln Re-Imagine Prize, and was named the 2014 Artplace America
Environmental Artist in Residence.
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APRIL 11 TO OCTOBER 31, 2015
Ann Smith Larson
Providence, Rhode Island
SCULPTURE(S):10 small “robot” animals
MATERIALS: Recycled machine parts
SIZE: 6-10” tall; up to 3 lbs.
10 delicate sculptures of owls, hummingbirds and goats bring used machine parts and broken electronics back to life. Each piece
varies in complexity — the smallest hummingbird is the product of 40 pieces and the largest owl is the product of nearly 150 pieces.
Although the materials used in these mini masterpieces no longer work, Larson brings them back to life to show it’s never too late
to see things differently.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Ann Smith Larson’s work has been featured in galleries and museums throughout the U.S. and has been
published as illustrations in magazines and brochures. Her clients include Chevron lubricants division, Cricket Magazine and Cicada
Magazine. She has received both local and international recognition from Make Magazine, Wired Magazine, PBS Boston, DPI
Magazine, Architectural Digest, GQ and The Discovery Channel. Ann’s work is in the permanent collection at the Rhode Island
School of Design Museum and is currently on display at 13 Forrest Gallery in Arlington, MA and Paxton Gate in Portland, OR.
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APRIL 11 TO OCTOBER 31, 2015
James Corbett
Queensland, Australia
SCULPTURE(S):Two polar bear cubs
MATERIALS: Recycled spark plugs
SIZE:
Nearly 300 lbs. each
Scrapped auto parts avoid the landfill if this Queensland recycler-turned-sculptor gets his hands on them. Never bending the parts,
this artist uses the existing shapes to create realistic forms, which tell meaningful stories. For Second Nature, Corbett is creating
two young polar bears from over 5,000 used spark plugs that are immune to climate change, unlike their Arctic counterparts.
The majority of materials used come from trash of auto workshops – even the coating was preserved using solar energy.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: A former owner of an auto recycling business, James Corbett made the decision to pursue art after he
began to see shapes and sculptures in the parts surrounding him daily. He has had regular solo exhibitions in Sydney, England
and California and has done commissions for people in Russia, India, England, Singapore, Europe, U.A.E. and
the U.S. His work has been featured on television commercials in Asia and Africa.
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APRIL 11 TO OCTOBER 31, 2015
Diet Wiegman
Rotterdam, Netherlands
SCULPTURE(S):Shadow projection depicting Rodin’s “The Thinker” contemplating a gorilla skull
MATERIALS: Recycled electronic parts and light
SIZE:
7’ tall (light surrounding shadow); 220 lbs. (materials)
This illuminating artist transforms a pile of discarded electronics into a stunning shadow - a man contemplating a gorilla skull,
and the possible extinction of our fellow primates. Consisting of dozens of different recycled elements, the artist’s sculptures
are created by arranging piles of trash to depict a thought-provoking concept when touched by light.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Dutch artist Diet Wiegman is referred to as the ‘art omnivore’ and started an art movement by the same
name. Wiegman was represented by the renowned Gallery Delta in The Netherlands. As a result Wiegman’s sculptures were
displayed internationally at some of the most prominent galleries and art fairs. In 2008 ‘Anagram’ was released, an award-winning
documentary by director Mike Redman that highlights Wiegman’s work and vision. In 2009 Wiegman was voted ‘Most brilliant artist
of The Netherlands’. His career spans more than fifty years of making contemporary sculptures, paintings and shadow art. His art is
owned by museums and private collections around the world.
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APRIL 11 TO OCTOBER 31, 2015
Maurizio Savini
Rome, Italy
SCULPTURE(S):Full-sized crocodile
MATERIALS: Chewing gum
SIZE:
8’ long; 200 lbs.
A jaw dropping 8-foot long crocodile made of chewing gum stretches the boundaries of repurposing. Chewing gum is a worldwide
problem, costing businesses and taxpayers millions of dollars per year to clean up if not properly disposed. These sticky sculptures
have been exhibited all over the world, including London, Edinburgh, Rome and Berlin, demonstrating a creative way to repurpose
a material that cannot typically be recycled or composted.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Maurizio Savini was born in Rome, where he studied architecture at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”.
He has had more than 100 group exhibitions and more than 50 solo exhibitions around the world, including London, Paris, Moscow,
Madrid, New Delhi and more. Savini’s body of work also includes stage settings for a number of theater productions and permanent
installations. In 2004 and 2005, he won prizes for his work from La Cité internationale des Arts in Paris.
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APRIL 11 TO OCTOBER 31, 2015
Leo Sewell
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SCULPTURE(S):Rhinocerous
MATERIALS: Silver serving plates and dinnerware
SIZE:
3.5’ tall; 175 lbs.
This Philadelphia-based artist has created rhinoceros made from 250 silver plate serving trays and other dinnerware collected
from curbs, junk sales and scrap piles.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Leo Sewell grew up near a dump. He has played with junk now for 50 years and has developed his own
assembly technique. His works are collected by corporations, museums and individuals throughout the world. Leo continues
to cull the refuse of Philadelphia out of which he fashions pieces of all sizes, from a life-size house cat to a 40-foot installation.
His sculptures are composed of recognizable objects such as plastic, metal and wood.
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APRIL 11 TO OCTOBER 31, 2015
Gerry Ellis
Portland, Oregon
SCULPTURE(S):Photogrpahy exhibit in PECO Primate Reserve)
MATERIALS: Photographs
SIZE:N/A
The work of Gerry Ellis, internationally-renowned nature and wildlife photographer, shows how the art of photography can help
save a species. In this new exhibit in Philadelphia Zoo’s PECO Primate Reserve, Ellis’s photographs from the field showcase gorillas
in the wild, offering a look at their reality in the face of habitat loss due to deforestation and climate change.
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Gerry Ellis has worked professionally as a nature and wildlife photographer since 1982. Through his lens,
Gerry shares the stories of lives and issues facing endangered species, indigenous cultures and threatened ecosystems across
every continent. He has received numerous photography awards including those from the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
His work has appeared in National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, The New York Times, Ranger Rick, GEO, and elsewhere, and he has
co-authored more than a dozen non-fiction and children’s books. His current work, Great Ape Diaries, asks the question: Will great
apes still survive in the wild by the end of this decade, the year 2020?
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