Adreonna RaineyThe University of Kentucky’s School of Art and Visual Studies (SAVS) is reimagining what an art studio can be. Two courses, Healthy Materials Lab and Digital Matrix Modeling, led by fabrication lab specialist Hannah Smith and professor Jonathan McFadden last fall, aimed to eliminate toxic materials from studio practices and introduce students to safer, recycled, and biodegradable alternatives.
“Sustainability is [a gap in our curriculum] that I want to keep underscoring,” said Smith. “We’re using materials that can be recycled or cheaply renewed, that are not to the detriment of our students’ health… We are showing them how to use these healthier practices for just about any kind of artistic discipline they want to pursue.”
Smith’s Healthy Materials Lab challenged students to explore non-toxic, recycled, and biodegradable alternatives—such as seaweed and plant fiber-based bioplastics—for wearable design, sculpture, and product fabrication. These materials are safer for both artists and the environment, as they break down naturally without contributing to microplastic pollution.
Meanwhile, the Digital Matrix Modeling course taught students to merge traditional printmaking and design techniques with new tools in digital fabrication. Sustainability is woven into the curriculum here as well— students incorporated sustainably sourced wood from the Robinson Wood Utilization Center and recycled 3D printing waste into their projects.
Two students, Lily Van Der Kooi, an art history and visual studies major, and Emina Rastoder, a digital media major, experienced a sneak peek of the courses last summer. A key component of this initiative is the creation of a bioplastic repository, which will serve as a resource for students to engage with as they learn to work with different materials.
“The repository of biocomposite samples–ranging from faux leather made from dragon fruit skins to transparent, gelatin-based bioplastic–will serve as the foundation for an upcoming section of AS-390: Healthy Materials Lab that I’m offering in Fall 2026,” said Smith. “This course will use our repository of previous samples and experiments to empower students to create their own biocomposites from food waste and non-toxic ingredients for use in product design, wearable objects and sculpture.”
The Healthy Futures project doesn’t just teach students how to make art; it teaches them how to make a difference.
