Collector's Items (To Some)

Day 1

6 hrs.

Trash isn't exciting to most. But for me, it's treasure. I must have yelled out, "Why would you throw that out?" and "Can I have that [soda bottle, spoon, chip bag] when you're done?" fifty times today. I drove around New London and to transfer stations and ran through the Proctor campus seeking aluminum cans, bottle caps, corrugated cardboard, and other "refuse."

I met Pete at 9:30 this morning at Vessels & Jewels to discuss the logistics of the following three weeks. It came down to this: Senior Project exists for me to do the things that I have a passion for. It sounds odd (to say the least) that trash is my passion, but I can't pretend that junk doesn't get me excited. Turning waste into usable items is gratifying, very inexpensive, and––most importantly––sustainable. So Pete told me to spend my energy on the projects I had in mind and bring them to the gallery to work on during the slow spots in the day.

Back on campus after gathering what I would call "collector's items," I sped toward the industrial design workshop by Maintenance. An old goal net, a helium tank, light bulbs, egg cartons, et cetera––I am in garbage heaven. I began designing my dress: Arizona-mango-iced-tea-can bodice, soda-tab straps, six-pack-ring "lace," and milk-jug decoration. Then I moved on to a cardboard chair. I'm about half-way done already and it's the best piece of cardboard furniture I've made thus far. I sanded the helium tank and marked where I'll cut it tomorrow to make a child's chair. What a fantabulous day.

Think trashy thoughts––

Soph