OPP Puff

'OPP Puff'
2010
Steel and shredded community gathered plastic water bottles

H 15" x W 8" x D 9"

The OPP series was cultivated over time with multi tiered efforts that started with gathering other peoples plastic water bottles, hence Other Peoples Plastic, OPP.

Each Plastic Water bottle was processed into sheets then sliced into tiny leaf like pieces. Each leaf like piece was pierced in preparation to be slid onto steel, stacking up as many as could fit.

The process of connecting the plastic to the steel was tedious and very satisfying. Once the tree was full and shapely, I gently coaxed the leaves with a heat gun. The plastic reacted as the heat kissed it, curling in various directions while also hardening the leaves into what you see now. If only I had kept track of how many bottles I shredded.

Image 1-3: 'OPP Puff'
Image 4: 'OPP Puff' in an exhibition.
Image 5: Detail of plastic, not OPP Puff.

Happy to answer any questions and/or send a video, it would help you see this small sculpture even more. Please send me a note!