Words by Smiley Team
A group of artists who were sick of having their daily lives affected by the waste around their city decided to act – through art.
The Old Trafford residents turned waste into art with the ‘Rubbish Art Book’. They collaborated with OT Creative Space, a community arts group and studio led by Lynda Sterling, to talk about rubbish and littering in a way that's new and eye-catching.
Littering has increased by over 500% since the 1960s, according to Litter Bins, with 48% of people in the UK admitting to dropping litter. The ‘Rubbish Art Book’ was created during a series of art workshops run by Liz Lock and Mishka Henner, who gathered the residents in an effort to put a positive spin on the issue of littering in their community.
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Featuring drawings and paintings of litter found on the streets of Old Trafford, this 200-page glossy book is a permanent record of what the community needs to change.
People of all ages and skill levels participated in the workshop – with mediums ranging from paints to charcoal – and were encouraged to bring along pieces of litter that they found on their way to the session.
“The workshop helped me see the beauty in everything – even rubbish!" said Sally Hirst, an artist from Old Trafford who contributed to the ‘Rubbish Art Book’. "Everything has a worth, and every piece of rubbish tells a story.”
The book has been published in an effort to make people think before they litter, and is available to buy for £5 from the OT Creative Space centre in Old Trafford.
SUPPORT: Support the citizens of Old Trafford by purchasing their book.
VOLUNTEER: Help tidy our streets by volunteering with charities such as Keep Britain Tidy.
