It wasn’t planned but my art route took a detour. In the
spring I began collecting discarded beer caps, tabs, and sharp glass for a photography exhibit on beer because I didn't have any other ideas. I glued the glass on the frames to add impact and interest. My three submissions were on display for months at the Wildrose Brewery, then they came home. No sales, no one thought them remarkable or thought provoking. No one had to have these conversation pieces or talk extensively with me about my innovative and creative displays. Still, I was not discouraged or embarrassed. It's ok to be a garbage picker if it's for art's sake, right? If it serves a good purpose? ABSOLUTELY!
The rest of my summer visits to the lake brought sadness to me too. I kept finding kid friendly things that were left by the young beach goers and their parents, friends, family.
Shovels, buckets, popped balloons, cups, ribbons, plastic ware, etc. Beach party after beach party - celebrations where no one wants to do the dirty work or take any kind of responsibility at all. So I picked up the
garbage, then arranged it, photographed it, and eventually made a poster for the Dunes Environmental Center
in Gary, IN. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose …Love Your Lakeshore. This theme
goes along with my poems that will be published this year which both praise our environment and curse the inhabitants.
Does anyone get it? What we are doing? You are going to the beach WHY? Hiking in parks WHY? To be with nature or to trash it?
Does anyone get it? What we are doing? You are going to the beach WHY? Hiking in parks WHY? To be with nature or to trash it?
Tomorrow our school custodian is retiring. Unable to
sleep early early this morning I wrote a poem and devised a plan. After
scouting the halls, classrooms, drawers, and cabinets all day at school and
then at home I came up with an abundance of materials. A work of art like no
other eventually evolved. This 8x10 framed poem is overflowing with admiration and appreciation. It's sad, how much we have, discard, waste but this shows someone understands and respects the hard work he did, the dedication he had. Hope he can take just one more mess. Thanks John and happy (garbage free) trails!
A quick detour or new direction entirely? Not sure, but at least I
have a purpose right now. It’s an interesting, fun, and creative way to spread the message. Reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose, replant, restore, ...
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