dumpster art

A good thing about hosting the Olympics is that suddenly money spins off for the Arts. Such was the case in Vancouver in 2010 when small galleries were able to host open house parties.

Smithrite is a large garbage collection company with a near-monopoly in the city. People known as “binners” go through the dumpsters, unless the dumpster has a lock, which is often the case. Perhaps the artists in these installations were making reference to the confluence of poverty, waste and policing. Or perhaps they were referencing the unbelievable police presence required to host the Olympics.