Michelle Stitzlein creates large scale sculpture from recycled materials. She works in a large studio converted from a former grange hall in Baltimore, Ohio. “Industrial Nature” will be exhibited at the International Museum of Art & Science Cardenas and Main Galleries February 26 through August 21, 2022.
During her travels she has met artists in countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Guatemala, Mexico, Bolivia, Colombia and India, and has been inspired by their resourcefulness & ingenuity with found materials.
A graduate of the Columbus College of Art & Design, Stitzlein has also taught workshops, as an artist-in-residence, at elementary schools, art camps, and arts festivals.
Using the humble plastic bottle cap as her medium, she encourages recycling through the means of art making. She has assisted children all over the US to make colorful murals, and whimsical outdoor sculptures utilizing thousands of bottle caps that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
She published the how-to books “Bottlecap Little Bottlecap” and “Cool Caps!,” as resources for parents and teachers. Projects from both books have been represented in Ranger Rick magazine as well as on HGTV.
This exhibit is made possible by an Arts Respond grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts. The artist in residence stay is supported by an Arts Create 2 grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and a grant from the Guadalupe El Torrero Foundation.
Industrial Nature Opening Reception
Saturday, February 26, 2022, 5:00-7:00 PM
Celebrate the opening of Industrial Nature with visiting artist Michelle Stitzlein who will be at the IMAS for both the installation of the exhibit and an artist-in-residency program series.
IMAS Members are invited to an opening reception for Industrial Nature on Saturday, February 28, 2022, from 5:00-7:00 PM in the atrium of the art gallery wing. Learn more about membership online, call (956) 681-2800, or visit the IMAS to join or renew your membership.
Learn more & RSVP >>
Call for Materials
Now through February 12
- Plastic bottle caps (between 1″-3″) of various colors (plastic caps can be found on milk and juice cartons, detergent jugs, soda and water bottles, salad dressing and condiment bottles, spray paints and beauty products)
- CDs
- Flat, old advertising magnets
- Clear or colored plastic lids larger than 5″ (plastic lids can be found on butter and cream tubs, nut containers, ice cream tubs, 5-gallon buckets, and coffee cans)
Art Programming with Artist in Residence Michelle Stitzlein
Adult Art Workshop: Beetle & Butterfly Recycled Collages
Saturday, February 26, 2022, 1:30-3:30 PM
Ann Moore Art Studio
Utilizing recycled cardboard packaging from candy, cookie and potato chip boxes and other grocery items, participants will create art inspired by nature with collage techniques. Final artworks can be framed or utilized as notecards. Recommended for ages 18+.
$10 per participant (includes admission) | $5 for IMAS Members
Registration opens Saturday, January 29 at 10AM CST for IMAS Members, Monday, January 31 at 8AM for Public
Register for the Workshop (Limited to 12 Seats) >>
Artist Talk “Creative Reuse Inspired by Nature”
Sunday, February 27, 2022, 2:00 PM
Atrium
Visit the IMAS on February 27 to learn more from Michelle Stitzlein. This talk by the artist is open to all visitors and included with the price of admission.
Art Afternoons with Michelle Stitzlein
March 2 & 3, 2022, 2:00-4:30 PM
Ann Moore Art Studio
Join artist in residency Michelle Stitzlein in creating art with recycled materials on the afternoons of March 2 and 3 from 2-4:30 in the Ann Moore Art Studio. Drop-in times start every 30 minutes beginning at 2 p.m. Activity included with admission. Seats are limited.
March 2: Mod Flower Magnets, all ages
March 3: Little Birdie and Bug Charms, 5th-12th graders
Polka Dot Bottle Cap Sculptures
Friday, March 4th, 4-7 PM
Discovery Pavilion
Included with Admission (Free for Members)
Participate in community artmaking with Michelle Stitzlein! As a collaborative effort, participants will help create outdoor sculptures inspired by nature with repurposed plastic bottle caps. These caps, formerly destined for the landfill, were collected by the community and will be utilized in a new format as colorful art material. Arranged like pixels on a computer screen, we’ll arrange the circle caps into patterns and then drill them into place for whimsical sculptures for the museum!
Michelle Stitzlein crea esculturas a grandes escalas utilizando materiales reciclados. Ella trabaja en una granja que ha sido convertida en un grande estudio en Baltimore, Ohio. Industrial Nature (Naturaleza Industrial) será expuesta en el International Museum of Art & Science en las galerías Cardenas y Main en
Febrero 26, 2022 hasta Agosto 21, 2022.
Durante sus viajes, ella ha conocido artistas en países como Sudáfrica,Namibia, Guatemala, México, Bolivia, Colombia y en India; ha sido inspirada por el uso de recursos e ingenio de la gente al utilizar materiales encontrados.
Graduada de Columbus College of Art & Design, Stitzlein también ha participado enseñando en talleres, como artista invitada, en escuelas primarias, campamentos de arte y festivales artísticos.
Usando las humildes tapas de plástico de botellas como su medio, ella fomenta el reciclaje a través de las artes plásticas. Ha ayudado a niños alrededor de todo Estados Unidos a crear murales colorídos y creativas esculturas para exteriores utilizando miles de tapas de botellas y de otros objetos que de otro modo acabarían en la basura.
Ella publicó los libros-tutoriales Bottlecap Little Bottlecap (tapita de botella tapita) y Cool Caps! (Tapas Geniales!), para que fuezen recursos para padres de familia y maestros. Proyectos de ambos libros han sido representados en la revista Ranger Rick magazine así como también en HGTV.
