Jewels from Trash: A Project for Our Times
Who would have thought that art made from trash would be a money maker! Warwick Marlow, prominent Fiji artist who has harnessed his creativity to one of the most pressing issues we face: the trashing of our environment.
He says: “This is a way for women from the villages to just pick up discarded trash from the roadside and make some money. It helps them and it helps address the problem of waste that besets our environment.”
Mr Marlow teaches women how to take an ordinary plastic Sprite or Fiji Water bottles and carve them into delicate earrings and necklaces with simple heated tools.
The motifs of leaves and fishes make for attractive decorations and the women go on to sell the items on their stalls, offering a fresh local home-grown approach to crafts.
“I’m so sick of seeing jewellery items made from beads and shells imported from Indonesia and China,” says Mr Marlow.
“We need to have our own ideas and produce our own crafts. And this project encourages tourists to engage with the local communities in a meaningful way, talking to them about their skills and about the environment – and, very importantly, the items are all compliant with the bio security laws in their own countries.”
Recently Mr Marlow conducted workshops in Savusavu that have been attended by women from Yaroi, Naidi, Nagigi, Nukubulavu, Nacekoro and Vakitava; they were taught the skills, given some starter ideas and then sent home with an entire kit to carry on the work.
The workshops were held at Daku Resort.
Partnership
Supported by the Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO) who have partnered with the Savusavu Tourism Association (STA), it’s an opportunity to impart new skills and to generate discussion and action on the problems of litter.
Savusavu Tourism Association members Sara Carlson and Matthew Norman of Ocean Ventures Fiji gave a presentation entitled ‘Ocean of Plastic: Where Does Our Waste Go?’, highlighting the global issue of plastic pollution and relating this to specific issues faced in Fiji.
They cited findings relating to the amount of plastic found in many edible fish, and spoke about several of the initiatives underway in Fiji aiming to tackle these issues. The surprising footage prompted several audience members to invite Sara and Matthew to visit their villages and give the presentation to their communities.
“As divers, this is a subject very close to our hearts,” says Mr Norman. “We’re delighted to help spread awareness of this global issue to such an engaged audience, and show how the actions of individuals and small groups of people can make a positive impact.”
Asenaca Luisa has been quick to adopt the ideas to her stall in the market.
“At present we’re selling mats and masi – there’s always a need for them because of weddings and funerals. But we also sell to the local market so this will be a really exciting new thing to have on sale.”
There are three main objectives of the workshop:
■First, to give women a new income stream that actually contributes to sustainable development.
■Seco■d, to boost community engagement in the tourism industry through programmes that improve understanding of their role in looking after their environment.
■Third, to help improve awareness of the importance of improved plastic waste management.
It’s an initiative that the SPTO have taken to Galoa Fiji, Funafuti in Tuvalu, Tarawa in Kiribati, Taveuni – and now Savusavu.
Savusavu Tourism Association Chair Delia Rothnie-Jones sees a lot of potential for the project.
“It’s an initiative that our visitors will really appreciate – they will get excited by the sustainable aspect and, as Warwick so rightly points out, all the items can be taken home with no risk of them being confiscated at bio-security checks. Plus, the jewellery is really fun and different and truly comes straight from the imaginations of the indigenous craftswomen.”