Some ordinary people have found extraordinary ways to recycle plastic bags - making high end art from these used plastic bags to usable jewelery, raincoats and more. Saving the planet, one bag at a time.
Joshua Allen Harris makes ‘subway art' from trash grocery bags. It all started from one bear he made which caught people's attention more than he ever expected. Air from subway tunnels magically breathes life into his inflatable subway art.
Anna Roebuck makes jewelry, lamp shades, bowls, gift pieces and art from plastic shopping bags. The bags and other materials are layered, collaged together to make intricate colorful designs. She has received several awards including the UK Gift of the Year Award for Fashion in the years 2002 and 2004. Her work can be viewed and bought on her website.
Israeli artist Inbal Limor uses plastic bags to create high end art. Though the frame on the left is abstract, I can easily picture it hung in a hotel balcony somewhere. The piece on the right uses the plastic bag fusing technique and a few stitches to create the beautiful flowers.
Some other folks are getting spiritual with the bags trash, converting them to funky mandalas. Virginia Fleck creates mandalas out of bits of bags that would otherwise reach the waste or recycle bins. You can read more about her projects on her website virginiafleck.com
Helle Jorgensen makes these wonderful plastic sea creatures, coral gardens, jewellery and various other pieces from reusing used materials like plastic bags. Some of her stuff can be bought on etsy.com. More pictures are on her website blog hellejorgensen.typepad.com
This raincoat came from plastic bags that were collected from various trash cans to make the material for the plastic bag raincoat. PenFelt is selling this durable raincoat at etsy.com. Its recycled, waterproof and comes with a Velcro fastening.
The website wow-imports.com has numerous animal figurines like a ladybug, rooster, snake and chicken all made from colourful plastic bags. The animals are priced between 3 to 30 US dollars.
This piece below gives birth to a new art idea. The artist was trying to make a plastic fabric and the print on the plastic bag he was using accidentally bleed into the paper, making it look like this -
If you want to learn the plastic bag fusing technique, plastic bag crochet and for more projects from plastic bag recycling read - Used Plastic Bags Art Projects for Dummies
I wish I was as creative as these people. Great, original article.
#2 by BC Doan, Oct 18, 2008
What a wonderful way to recycle these plastic bags!
#3 by gabbic1219, Oct 18, 2008
that is amazizing... great ideas and so very true about how many bags we go throu..,nice article!
#4 by Paula Mitchell-Bentley, Oct 18, 2008
Great Article!
#5 by nobert soloria bermosa, Oct 18, 2008
very creative,this is great
#6 by Amberina, Oct 18, 2008
Reading this article makes me want to go out and make something out of plastic bags. I once read how to make plastic rugs out of bags. Very nice idea.
#7 by josh utley, Oct 18, 2008
now that's a hell of a way to recycle. i like this article
#8 by Lauren Axelrod, Oct 18, 2008
Interesting topic
#9 by Rookie Expert, Oct 18, 2008
Thank you everyone for your comments. Somehow the links in the article do not seem to be working. Also the video has not been embedded. I have submitted a fix and it should be working in a day or so.
#10 by SeventhSibling, Oct 19, 2008
Very colorful pictuers. I like the idea that something useful, like a raincoat, was made from plastic bags. I take used plastic bags to the recyle center, but have not moved toward taking my own cloth bag to the grocery store to eliminate plastic bags from my grocery shopping -- I haven't seen that practice embraced by the food chains with whom I shop. Very thought provoking article.
#11 by Anne Lyken-Garner, Oct 20, 2008
This is such a cute article with great pictures.
#12 by Liane Schmidt, Oct 20, 2008
Wonderful article with a very good intention!
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
#13 by CHAN LEE PENG, Oct 22, 2008
Wonderful work, Rookie, take care!
#14 by Amit G, Oct 24, 2008
Awesome article! If only we could make people wear plastic bag clothing..
If you want to see some more work by Joshua Allen Harris http://fractalenlightenment.blogspot.com/2008/08/inflatable-subway-art-of-joshua-harris.html
#17 by tom, Nov 20, 2008
awesome work by Joshua! i can't believe that someone found a way to artistically interact with the city through garbage bags! Last time I was similarly surprised was when I watched this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDXjnW3nIWg&feature=related
