apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

While I can appreciate the ethereal and captivating quality of the project listed, it begs me to wonder what's going to happen to that mess once the installation is done? Most likely bound for the dump. I can't imagine a worse waste of resources than a project like this one.

It's also astounding when a site like this, that touts sustainability and being green and eco at every chance it can get would even venture to say how captivated they are at the waste and excess of this project.

/\/\ Ditto

I'm sure some SciFi production company would love to use it as a set prop. LOVELY!

Art is always wasteful.

I think its beautiful! And honestly, I do think one driving concept behind this site is the idea that it is worthwhile to create something beautiful. If not, then all of what is featured here is just waste. We do all kinds of things to beautify our homes that are not *necessary* and thus are wasteful, if that's how you want to think about it.

Not to mention that the plastic they "wasted" is nothing compared to what is wasted every single day. I bet that if one large grocery store stopped using plastic bags for one day, that could offset the plastic they used.

YES to the above comment about WASTE! When I read this article in the magazine I just shuddered. Yes, absolutely this is an interesting installation and yes it's beautiful and creative... but ALL of those plastic zip ties!??! It just seems absurd. It seems impossible actually, that there wouldn't even be a comment in the magazine itself or in interviewing the creators somewhere where someone said "how do you explain this? how to you condone this?" I don't know, there are a lot of things in this world that simply turn to waste once their done, but thousands of hard, plastic zip ties that can serve no other purpose? It made me sad.

I read all of the comments that were made (prior to my comment) regarding the waste element of this project and can't help but also agree. I'd be truly impressed if the 52 students responsible for this project outlined what their intentions were to reuse, upcycle or completely recycle the components, but have a hard time believing that they would put the elbow grease into carefully removing and depositing every single ziptie into the closest recycling container. I don't even know if that type of plastic is even recyclable to begin with.

Archie commented that art is always wasteful, but I respectfully disagree. Oftentimes, it is the perfect media with which to upcycle materials that would have ended up languishing in a landfill. When an artist is able to conceive of a truly beautiful vision made entirely out of what was once perceived as garbage, then they have really honored the earth. I also believe that those pieces help the average joe to see differently (at least "I hope") and they demonstrate that everything can be seen as a valuable tool to use to its fullest.

Those who subscribe to the idea of transforming trash into treasure would probably appreciate a cool "Choose To Reuse" that an online green social network (www.greenwala.com) is running. They're awarding a new eco-friendly laptop and printer for the most creative entry -- take a peek at what everyone has submitted already (some amazing ideas)!! http://www.greenwala.com/greenwala_contests

looks like Tara Donovan. I LOVE Tara Donovan.

It's a magnificent use of space: wasteful? Yes. But beautiful.

Sometimes i wonder, if most people like the ones who are commenting above really stop to think honestly about waste and recycling and being green and all that.... Have you ever in your own little comfortable world stopped and think that you are in the maybe less than 10% in the world that think about these things....

While authorities boast about "green" and conservation, truth is these same institutions that make you comfortable enough to think "green" are transfering all production, pollution and waste to other countries. Even in your own countries... have you seen how rural and small town lives are....or even within your own big cities....

There are no real practical choices and no tangible results to these practices for people in other areas and other countries.

Don't judge and don't pride yourselves for one minute thinking you are saving the world because you are not.

I'm pretty sure these guys had a lot of research and a lot of resource consultations before coming to this installation.

that is precisely the problem. 10% of the world actually puts their money where their mouth is, so to speak. i recycle EVERYTHING. if it can't be recycled i try very, very hard to think up new ways to use it. i recycle every inch of paper...the paper inserts inside the the q-tip plastic box that says the brand name...as well as the paper backing on the box. i pull those off and recycle them. the actual plastic i use as sock and panty dividers in my dressers. i pull all the paper labels off my tin cans (mostly vegetables) and recycle the paper and the tin. i am very dilligent about it because i know it DOES matter! if i'm in the less than 10% group, i can't afford to be careless!!! i have to try to make up for my punk neighbor frat boy low lives who throw away glass beer bottles by the truckload on the weekends.

i own a vintage clothing company because i believe in re-using what is already available. you can visit it at the link below.

but my first thought upon seeing those pictures?
"oh. my. gawd. that is stunningly beautiful!"

yes, art is art. and did anyone stop to think that the ties they used WERE recycled?? maybe they weren't. but do we know for sure? i know i don't throw my plastic ties away that come with my garbage bags. (i very rarely use real garbage bags. i re-use packaging like the large plastic bags that toilet paper comes in, etc.) but when i do resort to actual garbage bags i never use plastic ties because that is useless waste. i save them and use them around the house for projects and handy jobs.

we should ALL be doing our part! and that includes sustainable design and art.

(that was the longest comment i've ever left on at, but you hit a nerve with me. my entire life evolves around conservation! :)

kindly,
vintagedress
http://www.vintagedress.etsy.com

of course i meant to say "revolves" around conservation. lol
three cheers for not sleeping in 18 hours and how it affects your grammar! ;)

kindly,
vintagedress
http://www.vintagedress.etsy.com

ohhhh wow! my entire comment above was deleted! did at staff do that?
i was just talking about conservation and how i play my part. seemed harmless to me.
:|


kindly,
vintagedress
http://www.vintagedress.etsy.com

ok, and now they're all back! weird!!!
technical difficulties, at??

kindly,
vintagedress
http://www.vintagedress.etsy.com

not so sure that AT's mission statement includes everything green, as some reaction would imply ...

let's just say from my point for what it's worth: this one looks like it needs some tiny LED xmas lights woven thoughout; LEDs that change color with body temp or emotion.

how cool would that be if all of us posters could then lounge in one of these things and compare the LED response to our blog responses. then post those pics as well :)

not such a big fan of the initial concept, but hey, if you're going to spend that much time on something so tedious and wasteful, at the least add some bodacious visual interactivity.

personally, i won't be doing any plastic tie art.

hopefully, the creators will move on ...

wow. this post really brought a lot on from us all ... :)

next post, please ...