Fifteen students in a specialized art class were challenged to save the world and the result was the Sustainability Sprout.
Those 15 Ohio University students formed Common Ground, a sustainability group that is responsible for the 6x6x10 feet sculpture located on the fourth floor of the Baker University Center.
It started as a simple idea. ... The students were discussing how they interpreted their role and the students' role in the Athens community
said John Sabraw, the art professor who taught the class.
The Sprout is an interactive sculpture made of recycled wood, rebar and gauge wire. A sign next to the sculpture encourages people to write a pledge towards sustainability on a leaf and tie it to the sprout, helping it grow. Over 1,000 leaves were cut from plastic milk jugs, aluminum cans, recycled fabrics and paper.
Maybe I'll keep to this. I'll think that I wrote this in the back of my mind said Michael Morad, a sophomore studying sociology-criminology, after writing a pledge.
Pledges range from promising to recycle to reusing water bottles. Some included drawings of male genitalia and pledges of showering with other people, which were immediately removed, said Rush Whitacre, a senior studying painting and one of the sculpture's creators.
Even with the removal of vulgar pledges, Common Ground has had to supply additional blank leaves as the sprout continues to grow.
I'm just seeing this for the first time. It's very inspiring. I'm kind of taken aback. It's amazing to think what a difference we could make if everyone kept to this said Julianne Pekel, a junior studying business and marketing.
The Sustainability Sprout will be on display during April in Baker and will then be featured at OU's Student Research and Creative Activity Expo on May 14.
Common Ground is still looking for a permanent venue for the sculpture.
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Students can place leaves on the Sustainability Sprout while in Baker Center. (Joel Hawksley | Staff Photographer)
