Trash Cans are Beautiful (Now)

(Updated 8/08)

Youtube of Trash Can Painting Event at John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, Congers

Why should trash cans be ugly?

KRB's "Trashcan Arts" projects transform the lowly and often ugly public trash can into a thing of beauty, an invitation not only to put "waste in its place," but to engage with art that is intriguing, funny and entertaining. Our two trash can projects are the "Trash Can Painting Project" and the "Panel Can Project." The first involves hand-painted steel drums used for trashcans at bus shelters and parks. The second involves printing artworks on slide-in panels on square trash receptacles orginally designed to carry advertizing. Both of these projects create new spaces for artistic expression and appreciation while raising the profile of the ordinary trashcan and (hopefully) leading the way toward more attractive public space in general. For more information on the Trash Can Painting Project, see below. Click here for info on the Panel Can Project.

Trashcan Painting Project 

Over 200 hand-painted trash cans grace Rockland’s bus shelters, parks and playgrounds thanks to local artists participating in KRB’s trash can painting project, begun in 2003 with help from artists, the Arts Council of Rockland, the Clarkstown Highway Department, the Orangetown Highway Department and business sponsors. If you have free time, come and get involved in this colorful and creative project! Even if you have only a little spare time, in between work and family obligations, study or looking for jobs on Gumtree and in your local temp agency-- you can still contribute. Interested? Let us explain how we make these gorgeous garbage

In brief, we use the Clarkstown Litter and Graffiti Van to pick up blank 55 gallon steel drums from two factories in Congers (Star Kay White, which makes ingredients for ice cream, and Bee Alive, which makes health products, as well as Cook-Chill in Orangetown). We clean the cans of chocolate, coconut, honey and strawberry residues at the Clarkstown Highway Department, and bring the cans to artists all over the county. There is an annual exhibit of completed cans in mid-May at the Orangetown Highway Department’s open house, a time when guests vote for the prize winning cans and climb on all the big trucks. The cans are then installed in public places. Most cans are done by volunteers, but we offer a small number of $150 cash stipends annually, depending on funding by the Arts Council.

Guests at our annual exhibit choose a winner by signing the “Pledge to Protect the Environment” and dropping it in their favorite can. You can view the winning cans at right, and see many amazing cans in our online gallery, or just by driving around!

Professional artists, Scout troops, art studios and school art programs have all done terrific cans and we welcome inquiries year around. We’d love to do a commemorative poster if a willing graphic designer and sponsor comes along. The easiest way to help with this project is by getting your artist and painter friends to call KRB about doing a can.

Trash Can Painting Guidelines >

Photos of Spring 2008 Painted Cans About 60 new cans, and they sure are beautiful!!

Our Gallery of Trash Cans shows several dozen beautiful cans. Unfortunately we do not have the time to fully document the project, or keep track of each can's authorship and location. We are lucky if we can find the ones that are rusting out after 3-4 years and retire them.

 

Business Can Care

Julia Brooks (11 years old in 2005) painted her stunning Clown Can at Varcor Studios in West Nyack, where teacher/owner Pam Carroll helps students produce very nice cans and make a wonderful contribution to KRB and the community.

Albert and Frank Alexander, owners of Alexander Brothers car repair shop in West Nyack, jumped at the chance to adopt Julia's can. The brothers, who are also active in the adopt-a-road program, agreed to empty the trash and watch over the can. In particular, they are defending the can against those who would illegally plug it with household or commercial trash, making it difficult for the public to put "waste in its place."

Thanks are due to all these helpers!

Hopper House Joins Trash Can Painting Project

In 2007, KRB partnered with the Hopper House in Nyack to offer a community trash can painting event. Sheila Elliot organized the project, which involved people voting on which Edward Hopper painting should go on the can. Next, Sheila's husband John Elliot guided participating children in painting the can. It was completed during a Nyack Street Fair as a public painting event! Click the image below to see some Edward Hopper paintings, and the finished can.

Annual Trash Can Show Winners from the last few years...

2008 Winner of Popular Vote: Audrey Gensell's "Gothic Stained Glass and  Gargoyles," show here in center with her BOCES teachers Beth Borelli (L) and Mary Vail (R)

 

2008 Winner of KRB Board of Director's Vote: Johtoya Thomas' "Team Work" Can

2007 Winner of KRB Board of Director's Vote:

Terri Cooper and her husband pose with Terri's stunning can depicting the Hudson River.

2007 Winner of Popular Vote:

Harry Jean and his friend pose with Harry's Haitian folklorical can.