Plastics Are Forever/ Trash Makes Me Dizzy

Plastics Are Forever/Trash Makes Me Dizzy by artist Leah Reynolds was located at the Awbury Recreation Center in the East Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was created when Reynolds was an artist-in-residence as part of Mural Arts Philadelphia’s A2O.

For this project, Reynolds had teens work with her as collaborators on the project. The basic motif for the piece is a spiral, but the final result was a product of the group. In the first meeting, the group brainstormed questions like “Where can you find spiral forms? What can they symbolize? (What makes you dizzy?) What happens to plastic and what can you do with it?” They consulted numerous videos on YouTube about the Pacific Trash Vortex. The teens used drawing and writing to generate ideas throughout the project.

Reynolds created this large hanging primarily from plastic bags and bottles. The basic imagery is a large spiral in relief. The materials are mainly plastic bags and bottles that were collected from the rec center, from workshop participants and even from grocery stores. The project involved everyone in the collection of plastic materials. Reynolds provided workshops on crocheting, braiding, and knitting with plastic bags and on building a structure with plastic bottles. Some of the results were then included in the final piece. The underlying support for the work is plastic snow-fencing to which the materials have been securely attached. The finished piece is sturdy enough (and water- proof) to be hung outdoors.

Reynolds described her work in an artist statement:

“My artwork is influenced by everything going on around me- this necessarily includes the state of the (my) environment. I have never believed that my work (i.e. the materials used to make it) should last forever. For the most part, I make temporary installations that are dismantled, saved and re-used when possible. I do not make solid objects that obstruct; but use materials that are translucent or can be seen through. I often work site-specifically which means that I incorporate facts or elements from the site into the final installation. I am very process-oriented in that I value the discoveries that I make while on my way to resolving a piece.”

The takeaway message from the project is that, while we all use plastic, but can try to buy less and re-use as much as we can. It does not hurt to be reminded of the fact that plastic products really do not go away.

Location Note: Project no longer on view at this location (temporary project).