Archive for April, 2010

Arman’s poubelles

Sunday, April 25, 2010

French artist Arman traveled between France and the US making incredible trash art for several decades before his death in 2005. A recurring theme in his work was the poubelle, or trash can.

Household trash in a glass box, 1959

Here’s a photo timeline of Arman’s poubelles, a must-click for anyone interested in trash art. A biography of the artist can be found here (check out the photo of his piece “Long Term Parking”) and a more general timeline of his life and work here. Thanks Rachel and Tamar for sharing these links. Super!

More fun poubelle-themed links here, here and here.

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Fast Trash

Saturday, April 24, 2010

A bunch of you have sent me updates about this exhibit: “Fast Trash: Roosevelt Island’s Pneumonic Tubes and the Future of Cities.” I have long been curious about the fabled trash tubes of NYC’s weirdest little island and can’t wait to check out the show as soon as I get home (yay tram!).  If you’re in New York this month, it’s showing through May 23 at Gallery RIVAA on (where else) Main Street. Has anyone been yet? If so, do tell!

The Freshkills Park Blog has a comprehensive post here.

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Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Lake Nakuru

Hello trashies. Excuse the sparse posting lately. I’ve been distracted by the ash cloud, which grounded me in Nairobi this past week (where I was passing though when the Icelandic volcano erupted). To change things up while waiting for my reservation out of town I took  a bus to Nakuru where I spent the night at the Wildlife Club of Kenya Guesthouse inside Lake Nakuru National Park. After a serene night’s sleep, I went for an early game drive where I saw loads of white rhinos, herds of buffalo, a huge and beautiful pink horizon of flamingos, storks, pelicans and this eagle. And sadly, inside what should be a pristine environment: trash. Such as the yellow plastic bottle disrupting this scene. Sigh.  On a positive note, my guide Bosco spends his off time in the low season volunteering for a local NGO that sorts local trash, picks up waste from the streets of Nakuru town and gives educational classes for neighbors on proper waste disposal and the importance of keeping our natural surroundings trash free. Go Bosco.

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Recycling station art

Sunday, April 18, 2010

In Halmstad, Sweden’s 19th city (56 000 pax), trashy art has been taken to where trash harbours. Local artist Kamil Lucaszewicz has decorated a city recycling station, much to the joy of Lucaszewicz’s fellow citizens. Local TV station TV4 Halland has the story (there’ll be an ad clip first)!

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To bury or to burn?

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Experts weigh in over at the nytimes.com blog Room for Debate on whether the US should burn or bury its trash.

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Do drink the water

Saturday, April 10, 2010

One of my favorite things about working in Ethiopia this week has been enjoying the lovely local mineral water. At home, I’m an advocate of tap water and DIY bubbles, but on the road when unknown organisms are a fear, it’s really nice to see water that is a) local, b) delicious and c) bottled in glass. Mmm, Ambo.

Ambo Water from Ethiopia

Consider this a second reminder to watch The Story of Bottled Water.

And to read Bottlemania: How Water Went on Sale and Why We Bought It.

Both gems.

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Ethiopian trash murals

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Spotted on the streets of Addis Ababa: this series of trash picking, street sweeping, public gardening and construction images.

Street sweeping

Dumpster

Dumpster

Raking

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