University News Last updated 22 January 2019
A university academic has traded lecturing for litter picking, in aid of a new exhibition set to question and challenge the illegal dumping of consumer waste.
Dauvit Alexander teaches Jewellery and Silversmithing at Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery and recently joined the Jewellery Quarter Bid’s ‘Clean Team’ for a day, tidying up the streets of Birmingham and gathering scrap material to form part of his upcoming show, ‘A Waste Land’.
The exhibition opens at the School of Jewellery’s Vittoria Street Gallery on 4 February and will feature jewellery items created entirely from waste and recycled materials.
The collection of jewellery and wearable objects on display are being produced by Dauvit and Kent-based jeweller, Dan Russell.
“We hope to make people think more carefully about the way in which things are thrown away in the urban environment,” said Dauvit.
At the exhibition’s launch night (5 February), Dauvit will be wearing an outfit consisting of items found on the street, whilst students from Royal Birmingham Conservatoire will welcome guests with music performed on instruments made from waste items.
Refreshments at the event will be provided by The Real Junk Food Project Birmingham, who save over 15 tonnes of waste food every month and provide the public with healthy and nutritious meals on a ‘pay-as-you-feel’ basis.