wave hill, bronx, ny

A project/exhibition, REduce/REuse/REexamine, supported by Wave Hill, Bronx, New York.

Collection beginning points with maps.
18 December, 2003
1) Marble Hi, Tibbitt & 230th Strrel:

2) Rosendale near Wave Hill:

7 Februrary, 2004
3) Marble Hill, Broadway, 251 Street south:

27 February (next collecting event)
4) Marble Hill, Tibbiett & 230th Street

Thursday 18 December morning was very cold and sunny. Approximately, 30 degrees F. Ten students and their principal, Bill Elmore from Gateway Academy for Science, Mathematics and Research & JFK High School assisted December 18, 2003, for several hours by collecting and processing rubbish from the Marble Hill and Rosendale communities, Bronx, NY

1) Marble Hill- beginning from JFK HS, Tibbett Ave & 230th Street to Kingsbridge & 231st Street. 2) Rosendale. We took the bus from Marble Hill to Rosendale Henry Hudson Parkway & 247th Street. Walking west towards Wave Hill, we made observations of what was found. Prior to our walk we discussed what I was interested in collecting and not collecting. We did not pick up any biodegradable materials or sharp or dangerous items. Each student wore disposable rubber gloves to protect them from any potential bio or chemical hazards. The gloves have been collected and archived as part of the project. Several students drew pictures on the gloves with ink.

While collecting we made notes on small cards indicating approximately where each piece of detritus was located. After collecting the debris from the Bronx we began to document each item by notating the material, manufacture markings, addresses and what purpose it might have had prior to being discarded or lost. The re-packaged end product will invert the worth of the detritus by estimating what the art production was, including the labor expended on the project and repackaging the trash as an artifact from the Bronx of contemporary archaeology. This reclaimed garbage has been diverted from the landfill, or washed down into the sewer pipes and into the Harlem or Hudson River.

Roll over the upper row of images to reveal the kinds of materials found on site. Below you can see the students processing the rubbish by notating and listing what kind and where the materials where found.

The major difference in the debris collected between Marble Hill and Riverdale was the quantity. Many of the students were quick to notice the difference between these communities. The Riverdale area is a wealthy residential area and Marble Hill much more commercial. There seems to be more care taken within the residential areas compared to the commercial. In the high school, while departing on our first walk, we found candy wrappers, crisps bags, aluminum cans, and other materials in the hallways, stairwells, and corners. There was a great deal of construction near and around JFK High School- between the students’ garbage and construction sites surrounding the school there was plenty of material to pick from. We found all kinds of debris in Marble Hill that was generated from fast food, construction sites, car repair, schools and businesses and included, pens & pencils, notebook paper, candy and chip bags, small bottle caps, screw driver, cigarette packaging & butts, discarded bags of rubbish, clothing such as underwear, shoes, work and domestic gloves, plastic of all kinds such as lighters, unidentifiable plastic, etc.