Creating treasure from trash
Reassessing the waste that we create through reuse, repurposing or reinventing everyday materials↓
Projects to date: 4
first project: mid 2019
application: indoor/outdoor
While working in the world of installations, productions and events, the amount of new materials that are used for a single purpose and then sent to waste is astonishing. We have become accustom to not giving things a second life because it is usually faster and easier to get rid of the "used" and buy new.
This waste prompted my partner and I to start designing and building projects with their next lives in mind. With this process taking place at the start of a project, choices about materials and assembly are part of the pieces rather than an after thought of what to do with it later. In some cases, this simply means making the project from waste its self to try and offset the use of new and virgin materials.
The following projects were created based around the reuse of materials that were either headed to the landfill, or were already in the trash to begin with giving another life to materials and hopefully being able to repurpose them after for other projects.
Nike AirMax 2090
Material Innovation ⋅ Installation ⋅ Design
MATERIAL 01: Waste Nike Shoes
MATERIAL 02: waste scrap from studio
MATERIAL 03: Used Plexiglass
MATERIAL 04: gypsum cement
Project Code: wb03
YEAR: 2020
Can we learn from our past to build a better future? This Air Max 2090 display is built on the foundation of our past, through materials exploration of repurposed and found material. It was designed and created with Nicole Charles.
The main structure is an ‘integrated marble’ — a mixture of materials that were headed to landfill (sawdust, wood chips, acrylic offcuts and fibres, construction debris, and a pair of old Nike shoes) within a gypsum cement. Inspired by the Reuse-A-Shoe program, an old Air Max shoe was ground down and used as a filler for this newer material. With the addition of these reused materials, we were able to offset the amount newer material that was used and turn waste into art without it being visually apparent.
The Acrylic LED lit fins mimic the ridges and lines on the heel of the Air Max 2090 and Air Max 90. Cut through the centre of the fins is an air gap in the shape of the iconic Air Max bubble.
The round shapes are an homage to the many ball sports Nike is essential to, and humanity's search for a future life on another planet.
The stand is a hexagon, one of nature’s strongest and most efficient shapes. It’s made from reclaimed hardwood flooring similar to that found in most gyms; a nod to the history of sport.
Knot On My Planet - Holt Renfrew
Art Direction ⋅ Installation ⋅ Design
MATERIAL 01: used waste plywood
MATERIAL 02: waste oak flooring
MATERIAL 03: reused screws
MATERIAL 03: fabric offcuts
Project Code: wb01
YEAR: 2019
We are living in a world of planned and perceived obsolescence, consuming without concern, leading to endangerment of species and our planet. Coming together as a community affords us more resources and power to create change. How can we rethink our patterns of consumption and waste?
Another Life is a giant skeleton of a tusk, designed and created with Nicole Charles, inviting viewers to walk inside and tie fabric onto its structure, communally building this piece. The engulfing size of the tusk is a nod to our society and planet — we are living in it and have the power to affect it
We approached Another Life as a community project. It is made of over 90% waste and repurposed materials in an effort to create an eco-friendly and socially conscious piece with minimal waste.
This project is made possible by working with the local companies listed below and repurposing their scrap material:
Well and Good (wood, workspace)
Relative Space (flooring)
Notion Manufacturing (fabric)
Avery Plewes (fabric)
Kotn (fabric)
Holt Renfrew (fabric)
Dweller
Sculpture
WB04
MATERIAL 01: 100 year old Brick
MATERIAL 02: gypsum cement
Project Code: wb04
YEAR: 2020
During the exploration of seeing how far I could push waste mixtures, I revisited an old life of mine where I was collectable toy maker.
Dweller was a small sculpture is made from mixture of 75% waste construction debris from Toronto’s addiction to destroying and rebuilding. As the city is loosing its beautiful brick buildings filled with character to tall glass, concrete and metal monotonous condos, I wanted to make something that was always looking back at those structures that have been lost.
Each Dweller was hand cast with the bricks of the past causing no two to be the exact same.
Naica · The Funhouse
Immersive Sculpture
MATERIAL 01: used plexiglass
MATERIAL 02: waste plywood
MATERIAL 03: reuseable led lighting
MATERIAL 04: natural stones
Project Code: wb02
YEAR: 2019
Created with artist Nicole Charles, “Naica” was a permanent installation made for The Funhouse in Toronto in partnership with Universal Music recording artist LIGHTS.
Inspired by the Giant Crystal Cave in Mexico, Naica is a dark intimate space inviting the viewer to to escape for a moment of calming light and sound while being hugged by the danger of giant radiant crystals.
Naica was made with 65% waste and recycled materials from previous projects
explore:
Creating treasure from trash
Reassessing the waste that we create through reuse, repurposing or reinventing everyday materials↓
Projects to date: 4
first project: mid 2019
application: indoor/outdoor
While working in the world of installations, productions and events, the amount of new materials that are used for a single purpose and then sent to waste is astonishing. We have become accustom to not giving things a second life because it is usually faster and easier to get rid of the "used" and buy new.
This waste prompted my partner and I to start designing and building projects with their next lives in mind. With this process taking place at the start of a project, choices about materials and assembly are part of the pieces rather than an after thought of what to do with it later. In some cases, this simply means making the project from waste its self to try and offset the use of new and virgin materials.
The following projects were created based around the reuse of materials that were either headed to the landfill, or were already in the trash to begin with giving another life to materials and hopefully being able to repurpose them after for other projects.
Nike AirMax 2090
Material Innovation ⋅ Installation ⋅ Design
MATERIAL 01: Waste Nike Shoes
MATERIAL 02: waste scrap from studio
MATERIAL 03: Used Plexiglass
MATERIAL 04: gypsum cement
Project Code: wb03
YEAR: 2020
Can we learn from our past to build a better future? This Air Max 2090 display is built on the foundation of our past, through materials exploration of repurposed and found material. It was designed and created with Nicole Charles.
The main structure is an ‘integrated marble’ — a mixture of materials that were headed to landfill (sawdust, wood chips, acrylic offcuts and fibres, construction debris, and a pair of old Nike shoes) within a gypsum cement. Inspired by the Reuse-A-Shoe program, an old Air Max shoe was ground down and used as a filler for this newer material. With the addition of these reused materials, we were able to offset the amount newer material that was used and turn waste into art without it being visually apparent.
The Acrylic LED lit fins mimic the ridges and lines on the heel of the Air Max 2090 and Air Max 90. Cut through the centre of the fins is an air gap in the shape of the iconic Air Max bubble.
The round shapes are an homage to the many ball sports Nike is essential to, and humanity's search for a future life on another planet.
The stand is a hexagon, one of nature’s strongest and most efficient shapes. It’s made from reclaimed hardwood flooring similar to that found in most gyms; a nod to the history of sport.
Knot On My Planet - Holt Renfrew
Art Direction ⋅ Installation ⋅ Design
MATERIAL 01: used waste plywood
MATERIAL 02: waste oak flooring
MATERIAL 03: reused screws
MATERIAL 03: fabric offcuts
Project Code: wb01
YEAR: 2019
We are living in a world of planned and perceived obsolescence, consuming without concern, leading to endangerment of species and our planet. Coming together as a community affords us more resources and power to create change. How can we rethink our patterns of consumption and waste?
Another Life is a giant skeleton of a tusk, designed and created with Nicole Charles, inviting viewers to walk inside and tie fabric onto its structure, communally building this piece. The engulfing size of the tusk is a nod to our society and planet — we are living in it and have the power to affect it
We approached Another Life as a community project. It is made of over 90% waste and repurposed materials in an effort to create an eco-friendly and socially conscious piece with minimal waste.
This project is made possible by working with the local companies listed below and repurposing their scrap material:
Well and Good (wood, workspace)
Relative Space (flooring)
Notion Manufacturing (fabric)
Avery Plewes (fabric)
Kotn (fabric)
Holt Renfrew (fabric)
Dweller
Sculpture
WB04
During the exploration of seeing how far I could push waste mixtures, I revisited an old life of mine where I was collectable toy maker.
MATERIAL 01: 100 year old Brick
MATERIAL 02: gypsum cement
Project Code: wb04
YEAR: 2020
Dweller was a small sculpture is made from mixture of 75% waste construction debris from Toronto’s addiction to destroying and rebuilding. As the city is loosing its beautiful brick buildings filled with character to tall glass, concrete and metal monotonous condos, I wanted to make something that was always looking back at those structures that have been lost.
Each Dweller was hand cast with the bricks of the past causing no two to be the exact same.
Naica · The Funhouse
Immersive Sculpture
MATERIAL 01: used plexiglass
MATERIAL 02: waste plywood
MATERIAL 03: reuseable led lighting
MATERIAL 04: natural stones
Project Code: wb02
YEAR: 2019
Created with artist Nicole Charles, “Naica” was a permanent installation made for The Funhouse in Toronto in partnership with Universal Music recording artist LIGHTS.
Inspired by the Giant Crystal Cave in Mexico, Naica is a dark intimate space inviting the viewer to to escape for a moment of calming light and sound while being hugged by the danger of giant radiant crystals.
Naica was made with 65% waste and recycled materials from previous projects
explore: