American Trash | Teen Ink

American Trash MAG

January 18, 2010
By Nate1677 SILVER, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Nate1677 SILVER, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
5 articles 11 photos 0 comments

An unconventional piece, American Trash, is a life-size installation. By working on this piece I was given the chance to do a full-body cast of a person for the first time. This was a great learning process for me to go through and is a good skill because it can be put to use in all types of sculpture.

This piece was meant to help those around me understand the plight of the poor and downtrodden in American Society. The two figures are set in trashcan filled to the brim with garbage. The figure of the upper body lacks any senses; feeling (no finger tips), sight (no eyes), hearing (no ears). The other figure is placed upside down in the can feet hanging in the air. Like the poor, these figures have been denied the right to live in a clean place and are treated like they have no senses to take action in their situation. They are splatter painted with Red, White and Blue to express the sloppy shape that these people are handled with by the government.

The goal behind this piece was to give insight to people who ignore those cast out of society like they are trash. All people deserve respect and every person deserves the right for their voices to be heard and for their problems to be addressed.

Tags: Abstract


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This art has 13 comments.


on Dec. 30 2011 at 7:56 am
beautifulspirit PLATINUM, Alpharetta, Georgia
35 articles 0 photos 1398 comments

Favorite Quote:
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
--Eleanor Roosevelt

I like the idea of the desensitized figures, recognizable only by possessing the shape of human beings. Ignored, isolated...they are the castoffs of society, dealing with their problems alone. That's a great message behind your piece. I really like it.

on Jun. 20 2011 at 10:51 am
Scribbler-of-Dreams PLATINUM, Brandon, Florida
23 articles 0 photos 69 comments

Favorite Quote:
Love isn't everything we want, but it's everything we need....

Wow! I luv it! It really makes u think! :D

Polythene GOLD said...
on Jul. 17 2010 at 8:54 pm
Polythene GOLD, St.petersburg, Florida
15 articles 17 photos 37 comments

Favorite Quote:
"living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see."

interesting, i can see what your trying to say

AbbyQ PLATINUM said...
on Jun. 7 2010 at 1:03 am
AbbyQ PLATINUM, Fairbanks, Alaska
34 articles 0 photos 32 comments

Favorite Quote:
"When the coroner cuts me open, he will find ink in my veins and blood on my typewriter keys."

Interesting how the person's fingers are cut off. Fantastic job.

makayra BRONZE said...
on Mar. 26 2010 at 2:25 pm
makayra BRONZE, Berkley, Massachusetts
4 articles 0 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
"We can never stay mad at people who make us laugh"

this is so true. i like it (:

on Mar. 5 2010 at 10:12 pm
i_am_nobody SILVER, Belgrade, Montana
7 articles 0 photos 85 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's sh*t, and never let them take you alive." -Gerard Way

hahaha funny! i think its cool

on Mar. 5 2010 at 2:21 pm
MyTeacherMadeMeDoIt PLATINUM, Grand Haven, Michigan
21 articles 4 photos 53 comments

Favorite Quote:
I dream of a world where chickens are free to cross the rode without their motives being questioned. (A friend)

i see it as going through one world to come up in the same or something along those lines

Milo! said...
on Mar. 3 2010 at 6:43 pm
WOW. That's all I can say. This is amazing!

on Feb. 13 2010 at 4:18 pm
VioletsandVoice, Spiritwood, North Dakota
0 articles 0 photos 170 comments
I like this, is that paint on the body parts? I like how it looks whatever it is

billydee22ny said...
on Feb. 7 2010 at 3:30 pm
billydee22ny, Middletown, Maryland
0 articles 6 photos 21 comments
very cool. very creative. great message. good job!

Read2Write said...
on Feb. 1 2010 at 12:18 pm
Way to go! You really stood out there by doing this piece of work. It really makes a person think:) Bravo and keep up the good work (and messages!)! :)

Thin_lizzy said...
on Jan. 31 2010 at 9:11 pm
Thin_lizzy, Altamonte Springs, Florida
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment
This is so creative. It's my favorite out of the others I've seen so far.

on Jan. 31 2010 at 5:38 pm
Alyssa(: PLATINUM, Arvada, Colorado
20 articles 2 photos 18 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when their right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust noone but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."
— Marilyn Monroe

I love this! Its so abstract and creative!