Mixed Media (plastic, paper, and cigarette buds) on Foam Board
Trash in New York City’s Times Square. Collected on May 3rd, 2018. The items collected were found in between 7th avenue and Broadway from 42nd street to 47th street. Due to all the locked trash cans, these objects were found on the streets and sidewalks of Times Square. Each of these items were the most commonly seen objects on the ground, with cigarette buds being the most, then coffee cups, plastic bottles, paper/receipts, plastic bags, and finally, splash sticks. Considering the influx of people and the stores in this small area, this collection of items represents, not only what visitors and residents carried, but what they find disposable, replaceable . All the objects are single-use, and at one point, held value to its owner, but once it’s purpose was filled, it was not even discarded with proper disposal. The purpose of this piece is to confront viewers with the reality of single-use materials, human habits, and what goes unnoticed below the distracting lights of Times Square.
