Sometimes a trip to the dump is just a trip to the dump. And sometimes there’s an art project titled “Wellesley Dump Art” going on in the Give and Take area. With permission from the RDF, I got all artsy over the weekend and had great luck in getting the dump-going community to join in on my flight of fancy.

The idea behind “Wellesley Dump Art” was simple: to create still-life arrangements on-site at the RDF using exclusively items that came into the Give-and-Take area and flowers from my yard. I then photographed the completed arrangements. The next part of “Wellesley Dump Art” is to frame and exhibit some of the photos in a to-be-determined space in town. The project was part temporary installation, part performance art, and part photography shoot. It was community participation, cool tunes in the air, and a sense of fun. There were strange looks, some nervous laughter, and requests to take some of the props home (the answer: but of course!).

#Wellesley MA dump #art day #recycling #creativity
A video posted by theswellesleyreport (@theswellesleyreport) on Sep 12, 2016 at 12:01pm PDT

The next part of the project is to frame and exhibit some of the photos in a to-be-determined space in town.

Thanks, Wellesley, for not only encouraging my eccentricities, but allowing me space to indulge them. And thanks to the Wellesley Cultural Council for funding this effort.

Here are some pics of what came of it all:

Wellesley Dump Art day — “Alcohol is the root of all evil,” by Tom Ankermann.

"Simplicity," by artist who wished to remain anonymous. — “Simplicity,” by artist who wished to remain anonymous.

"The hangover," by Deborah Brown — “A Bit Disheveled,” by Deborah Brown

The Kiss and Cry area, where artists unwound after the hard work of creating.

The WHS football team stopped by to help out the RDF volunteers with some heavy work. They weren't too busy to pose for a pic. I handed out a zinnia to each. Some wore them in their hair, some held them in their hands, or their teeth. — The WHS football team stopped by to help out the RDF volunteers with some heavy work. They weren’t too busy to pose for a pic. I handed out a zinnia to each. Some wore them in their hair, some held them in their hands, or their teeth.

Thanks, RDF volunteers, for all your help.

Comments

Dennis McCormick says
September 25, 2021 at 9:41 pm
Thank you! I am impressed with the amount of public art that you identified, and what fun to have an exhibition at the take and leave. Really appreciate this!
Barbara Marx says
October 25, 2019 at 10:37 am
Fabulous! Wish I had known in advance. I would have stopped and smelled the …. flowers.
Thank you for Swellesley and your creativity.
Joany Sasso says
September 13, 2016 at 10:05 pm
Thanks Deborah & Bob for a fun art morning. We, the Friends of Recycling Volunteers look forward to doing it again. All of the art displays looked fabulous.