Indigo Arts Gallery owner Tony Fisher holds a passion for folk art. Raised in Africa, Fisher grew up seeing resourceful people turn materials that we would consider trash, such as scrap wood, cans, and wires, into homemade toys and household supplies. Buckets are created from tomato cans, suitcases from tuna cans, and tote bags from bottle caps. Fisher has traveled the world searching for examples of such recycled innovations, finding himself in poverty-stricken countries such as Vietnam, Mali, Senegal, and Ghana. He uses the resourceful ingenuity found in third world countries and turns it into folk art that reinvents the way we look at trash and recycling. Launched in 1986 and located in Philadelphia, Indigo Arts Gallery was founded by Fished and Devi Cholet, and offers a selection of recycled art from around the world.

www.indigoarts.com

The TRASHed campaign uses art to challenge the way people and businesses view recycling and trash collection. TRASHed brings together the world’s best artists to turn ordinary recycle bins into inspiring works of art. After one look at the artwork that this campaign produces, you will never look at trash the same.

Fashion Peace, a youth-focused worldwide initiative that utilizes fashion, music, and art to address worldwide issues and a subsidiary of Global Inheritance, develops and executes the campaign. Artists such as Hunter S Thompson, Pinky (Lost), Mark The Cobrasnake and Mark X Farina have all contributed original recycling bin designs. The campaign hosts events across the United States, recently exhibiting at Warped Tour 2005 and Sundance 2006.

Recycling bin artwork by Rene Garcia, Jr., Josh Scheuerman, and Steven Lopez

www.globalinheritance.org/trashed