Tag Archives: recycling

Everything is Incredible: A Man Ravaged by Polio Spends his Life Building a Helicopter from Trash

Everything is Incredible: A Man Ravaged by Polio Spends his Life Building a Helicopter from Trash recycling flight documentary

I honestly have no idea where or when I first saw this film, but it’s stuck with me for over a year, and unable to find it again after searching the past few days I turned to Jason Sondi over at Vimeo. Armed with my vague description, and despite never having seen it himself, he found it in about 10 seconds.

Everything is Incredible is a short documentary by Tyler Bastian, Trevor Hill and Tim Skousen about a man named Agustín from Siguatepeque, Honduras who was struck with polio at a young age. His body ravaged from disease, he was left unable to walk and spent most of his life working as a shoemaker in what is described as near-poverty. Possibly plagued by childhood dreams of flight, in 1958 he embarked on his life’s work: the construction of a crude, custom-designed helicopter made completely from trash with the exception of a few pieces of rebar purchased from a hardware store. Even the chains he uses to power the propeller were forged by hand. The filmmakers do a wonderful job interviewing local residents and family for their reactions that vary from hope to despair. I find this video to be both very beautiful and very sad as it discusses what is gained and what is sacrificed through the act of devotion and creation, yet I’m left feeling a profound sense of love for Agustín, which is perhaps why it’s stuck with me for so long. Definitely worth 10 minutes of your time. Thanks Jason.

Also, if you liked this, check out the exceedingly bizarre Welcome to Planet Earth: The UFO Welcome Center.

Update: In response to recent attention the filmmakers have launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise enough funds help Agustín with living expenses by purchasing the helicopter and his home. He will of course retain both through the end of his life, but with the funds raised from the campaign the helicopter itself would be preserved in his memory. Go donate, I did.

Mechanical Sculptures Built from Discarded Objects by Andrea Petrachi

Mechanical Sculptures Built from Discarded Objects by Andrea Petrachi sculpture recycling

Milan-based Artist Andrea Petrachi creates bizarre characters and insects using reclaimed objects such as old cameras, calculators, pliers, knives, and even electric razors. Despite their sleek design, the characters are quite whimsical, often taking the persona of faces and heads removed from dolls and other children’s toys. Petrachi says his work is generally a symbol of our cultures out-of-control consumerism. See much more in his portfolio. (via daily art fixx)

By Christopher on August 8, 2012 • recycling sculpture

Animal Sculptures Made from Reclaimed Household Objects

Animal Sculptures Made from Reclaimed Household Objects sculpture recycling animals

Artist Sayaka Ganz was born in Yokohama, Japan and grew up living in Japan, Hong Kong and Brazil, and now lives and works in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Ganz was deeply impacted as a child by Japanese Shinto beliefs that all objects and organisms have spirits, and was also taught that objects discarded before the end of their usefulness “weep at night inside the trash bin” (this is so wonderful I’m going to start teaching this to my son immediately). As her artistic side developed, she infused her artwork with these beliefs, using discarded and reclaimed household objects as a medium for her sculptures. Ganz says:

I only select objects that have been used and discarded. My goal is for each object to transcend its origin by being integrated into an animal/ organic forms that are alive and in motion. This process of reclamation and regeneration is liberating to me as an artist.

Building these sculptures helps me understand the situations that surround me. It reminds me that even if there is a conflict right now, there is also a solution in which all the pieces can coexist peacefully. Though there are wide gaps in some areas and small holes in others, when seen from the distance there is great beauty and harmony in our community. Through my sculptures I transmit a message of hope.

What you see here is only a small fraction of her work, you can see much more in her Motion, Displays, and Scrap Metal galleries. You can also see more work on Facebook. (via cosas cool)

By Christopher on July 20, 2012 • animals recycling sculpture

Giant Fish Sculptures Made from Discarded Plastic Bottles in Rio

Giant Fish Sculptures Made from Discarded Plastic Bottles in Rio sculpture Rio de Janeiro recycling plastic

As part of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) an enormous outdoor installation of fish was constructed using discarded plastic bottles on Botafogo beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The sculptures are illuminated from the inside at night creating a pretty spectacular light show. Love this. See much more over on this Rio+20 Flicker set. (via hungeree and razor shapes)

By Christopher on June 21, 2012 • plastic recycling Rio de Janeiro sculpture

Recycled Plastic Bottles Partially Filled with Colored Water Used to Create a Parking Canopy

Recycled Plastic Bottles Partially Filled with Colored Water Used to Create a Parking Canopy street art recycling architecture

Designer Garth Britzman of Lincoln, Nebraska used recycled bottles filled with colored water to create stunning topographical shade canopy for a vehicle. I love how the natural shape of the plastic bottles makes the pooled water look like leaves. See more over on Behance. (via my amp goes to 11)

By Christopher on May 12, 2012 • architecture recycling street art

Welded Sculptures Made from Found Objects and Recycled Materials by Brian Mock

Welded Sculptures Made from Found Objects and Recycled Materials by Brian Mock sculpture recycling guitars dogs

Portland-based sculptor Brian Mock is a welding virtuoso, turning hundreds of discarded nuts, bolts, hinges, and forks into life-size dogs, birds, and even faithful replicas of doubleneck Gibson electric guitars. Mock says of his work:

I am intrigued by the challenge of creating an entirely unique piece from an eclectic collection of discarded objects. Giving these old, common items a new and extraordinary life as one sculpture is an artistically challenging yet gratifying process. This type of work is also designed to be highly interactive and prompt viewers to question the reality of what they see. Audience reactions fuel my motivation.

If you like what you see here, you should head on over to 360See Gallery, matter!, and his Facebook page. Mock also has a number of reasonably priced items available on Etsy including some beautiful small dogs.

By Christopher on March 8, 2012 • dogs guitars recycling sculpture

New Recycled Skateboard Deck Sculptures by Haroshi

New Recycled Skateboard Deck Sculptures by Haroshi wood skateboarding sculpture recycling

dailyDuJour has the first coverage I’ve seen of five new works by Japanese artist Haroshi who uses layered and pixelated pieces from reclaimed skateboard decks. Via his website:

Haroshi makes his art pieces recycling old used skateboards. His creations are born through styles such as wooden mosaic, dots, and pixels; where each element, either cut out in different shapes or kept in their original form, are connected in different styles, and shaven into the form of the final art piece. Haroshi became infatuated with skateboarding in his early teens, and is still a passionate skater at present.

These new pieces were on display last night as part of an exhibition at a distribution center for streetwear manufacturer HUF in L.A., and you can see much more over on dailyDuJour and Haroshi’s Facebook page. The last piece above, the moose, is another recent sculpture (not part of the HUF exhibition) that now hangs in the home of professional rally driver Ken Block. Out of control amazing.

By Christopher on January 8, 2012 • recycling sculpture skateboarding wood

Seed Faces

Seed Faces recycling plants paper organic home gardening faces

Seed Faces are little heads made from recycled paper pulp. You put the suckers in some dirt and in a few days heirloom sprouts grow out of their friggen’ faces. If you want, you can then eat them. The whole endeavor is a little quirky and weird but, purchased! Made by Kelsey Pike at the Sustainable Papercraft Studio, available in packs of 25 for $7 or 10 for $3. See also Comic Book Farming. (via the rhumboogie)