Ah, Le Mini Paris!

To most people, used cans, jars, cardboard boxes and other discarded household wares are just things to either be thrown in the trash or recycled.  To inspired Frenchman Gerard Brion, however, they are the brick and mortar with which he built a detailed 1/130th scale model of Paris, France over the past 15 years.  Located in his own backyard in the southern French town of Vaissac, 70 km north of Toulouse, Brion’s creation is open to the public, and even has a (human-size) cafe and various nearby attractions in case you get tired after an hour of strolling its mini streets.  It goes without saying that Brion’s work shows how a little creativity (and a LOT of dedication) can change the way we perceive of refuse, and perhaps even suggest the permanence of many of the things we think just “go away” when we throw them away.  Anyone interested in visiting should hurry, as the park will only be open through September 30th!

For more information please visit Le Petit - Paris

Reclaiming Materials In a Remarkable Way

Bill Harding aka “Gene Pool” is a Brooklyn, New York based artist. For over a decade now he has been experimenting with reclaiming objects using the materials to make outfits. He has a series of suits, each fabricated to send a message about recycling or the environment. Through frequent appearances in the New York area he shows off his suits to the public. His work “Can Man” is a wearable suit created using 500 aluminum cans. Another piece of his work is called “The $uit”. It weighs 52 pounds and is covered with pennies.