Pretty Trash

Right now, everything is "going green" or "eco-friendly." I feel a little passe with my non-hybrid car everytime I go to the gas pump. However, I am finding I really do like an off-shoot of this trend - using things that are usually deemed as trash to make something much more pretty, art.

Case in point, Tara Donovan's upcoming exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York opening this Tuesday, November 20, that makes larger-than-life installations out of ordinary objects you'd find around the house like tape and drinking straws. So instead of piling up in a dump, or on a beach like Styrofoam beads are want to do, it becomes pretty amazing art that you can pay a $20 suggested donation to see. I'd love to see something like this Stryofoam cup extravaganza. Tara's also got about 18,000 graphite pencils on display at BEDFORD Gallery in Walnut Creek, Calif. through December 22, 2007. Bay area friends, check it out!

Also, like the Blueprint blog, Bluelines, I am a very big fan of Chris Natrop's lovely paper pieces. I instantly thought of Tord Boontje, too (anyone looking for an over-priced Christmas gift for me? It would be Boontje's beautiful and quite heavy coffee book, thanks.) Natrop has a piece called "Super City Spin" over at Chapman University in Orange, Calif., that I might just be tempted to check out.

But what I'm really interested in is the lasercut free-flowing paper constructions from his site like the pretty one to the left. He also has a book that you can download for free, check it out.

Peter Calleson also makes some crazy large-scale paper installations (and works on snow, ice and water...wow.)

So, lesson learned - there's actually a LOT more to supposed trash than meets the eye. Maybe next time you want to throw out that pizza box, you can repurpose it to make an oil painting or something.

I have a couple new friends I'd like you to meet. Every now and then I stumble upon a site that catches my eye and it instantly goes to my bookmarks.

The following goodies definitely meet that criteria.

I discovered the Evite blog while revising my birthday invitation for the fourth time in a row. (Clever enough? Not yet!) There are some interesting party and food ideas and I have to say I very much enjoyed the blood mary concoction tips. Better yet, they suggest hosting a Bloody Mary Bar at your next Sunday football gathering..."Sunday, Bloody Sunday"...get it?

However, I do not recommend the Cupcakes and Cocktails party they're touting. I tried it for my 24th birthday soiree, and we were so sugared out within an hour that I just wanted a cup of water.

And then for those who love to DIY, I really like Design*Sponge. 99.9 percent of these ideas will never come to fruition in my household, but I can still read about them and feel good about that. These library tips are very Domino Magazine and I love that they pointed me in the direction of these adorable, affordable prints.

This project, 20x200, produces new art every week at different price points. The smallest pieces are 11" x 8.5" and are $20 a pop. New work goes up every Tuesday and Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. EST, so I'm guessing the crop I'm looking at right now is fairly new. I'm really into this birdy and remnants of revelry in Brooklyn.

They're also very cute and break down design trends for you so you don't have to figure it out on your own. They seem to really heart Anthropologie. As do I!