Photographer Todd McLellan has been on my mind ever since I saw this post on making an Inventor’s Box: a collection of tools and second-hand electronics for kids to disassemble, organize, wreck, rebuild, or reinvent into something completely different… you name it!
In this time-lapse video (or this one), watch Todd disassemble different kinds of machines so that they can be meticulously arranged and photographed. Here are two examples of the final product:
Then view his project, Things Come Apart, where he’s also photographed the same parts “flying” through the air.
McLellan’s photographs seek to challenge our disposable culture by making transparent all the things that we regularly throw away. He said he wanted to get inside the older objects to show the quality, beauty and care that went into the original manufacturing process.
“I hope people think a little bit more about the things they use. Not that people should have feelings for objects, but instead think about ‘reuse and recycle,’ not just ‘use and discard.’ “
The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry is featuring Things Come Apart until May 19th, 2013, or check out McLellen’s new book available for pre-order on Amazon: Things Come Apart: A Teardown Manual for Modern Living.
via NPR.
Related art from parts: One Plastic Beach.
This Nike Better World promo video from 2012 shares the manufacturing process of how plastic bottles can turn into “the most advanced football jerseys on the planet.” (And by the way, that’s soccer/football, not American football.)
There are some excellent vids about plastics and sports in the archives.
via Ecouterre.
Cateura, Paraguay’s residents live on top of a landfill that gets 1,500 tons of solid waste each day, exposing the impoverished communities to unhealthy conditions. Most of the town works in the dump as recyclers, including many of the young people.
When local teacher Favio Chavez decided to teach the town’s children to play music using his own instruments, he soon had more students than instruments. The solution? He started teaching the students on instruments upcycled from trash and the Recycled Orchestra was born.
This trailer for the 2014 documentary, Landfill Harmonic, introduces the story of this youth orchestra and their community’s inspiring resourcefulness. The filmmakers also hope to bring attention to Cateura’s need for improved living conditions. You can follow them here: @landfillharmoni and facebook.com/landfillharmonicmovie
via Shareable.
Portuguese toy designer Marco Fernandes reuses parts from computers, televisions, DVD players, stereos, old toys and other old electronics to build unique robot toys, all by improvising with what he has. The R³bots light up and come with a display case created from jars, old lamps, plastic boxes and other assorted parts.
The entire R³bots series is here on Behance where Marco writes, “reuse, recycle and customize instead of mass production.”
via Laughing Squid.
In the archives: art from found beach plastic.
Not only does this classic Sesame Street short explain paper recycling in a relatable way, but it’s always great when the music is unique to the video rather than catering to popular music or “kid’s” music. Bonus: “Old papuh, new papuh!” …love that old NYC flavor.
