Amanda Kay Wallace
Goddard College

Ganga River
Handmade paper, encaustic on panel
16" x 20"

Art, to me, involves not just one tought, but numerous thoughts marrying to form one finished piece. To be aware of what is occurring in my community as well as on a global level, is a concern that I internalize within me. In turn, my art is created with the feelings I carry within. Making my work allows me a forum through which I can process and communicate these feelings. I want the people viewing my art to feel what I feel, to
understand what I am attempting to convey through my work.

I find a lot of my inspiration comes from merely walking through my neighborhood looking at the trash and really seeing the world around me. I am passionate about the issue of how our planet is being abused. My passion for nature has made me curious about what causes pollution and motivated me to research issues such as religion, greenhouse effect, water pollution. ozone depletion, landfills, and air pollution. I have learned man is the culprit of the earth's environmental damage, and nature only
contributes a small portion to pollution which destroys the ozone layer, causes dead zones in our waters, and ways to reverse pollution. My studies have inspired me to use recycled materials to create sculptural mixed media paintings. I chose these media, because I felt they were the right ones to communicate my feelings about pollution.

I am using what might otherwise be considered litter to make pieces that raise awareness about the effects of pollution. When I make art, I am trying to communicate the emotions I have toward pollution to my audience, and I hope they walk away with a sense of awareness about the negative attributes of pollution.