Art Competition - Recycling Bins

1st Round of Pedestrian Recycling Bins Designed by Local Artists Installed in Broad Ripple

2nd Round of ReArtFormation Competition Open for Applications
April 15, 2009 Deadline

Seven pedestrian recycling bins created by local artists as part of the Indianapolis ReArtFormation II competition are being installed today in Broad Ripple. The bins, designed to accept bottles and cans, are located along College Ave., Broad Ripple Ave., Westfield Blvd., and Guilford Ave.

“Providing opportunities for citizens to recycle plays an important role in our efforts toward citywide sustainability,” said Mayor Greg Ballard. “These pedestrian recycling bins are functional works of art, and I am thrilled to see them being installed just as the weather is welcoming more pedestrian traffic in Broad Ripple.”

Broad Ripple is the city’s second cultural district to have recycling bins installed on its streets. The first, Massachusetts Ave., had bins installed in October 2008.

“The proximity to shops and restaurants and the Monon Trail makes these locations ideal for recycling bins,” said Office of Sustainability Director Kären Haley. “Making recycling more abundant and convenient for citizens is part of the larger City-wide SustainIndy initiative, and these new pedestrian recycling bins are a step towards improving the quality of life in Indianapolis.”

ReArtFormation I was a contest to create art from recycled materials. ReArtFormation II was a call for designs to create the recycling bins now being installed. The second phase of the recycled art competition developed out of a partnership between the Broad Ripple Village Association (BRVA), the City’s Office of Sustainability, and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. (KIB). In an effort to make ReArtFormation II possible, BRVA applied for and received a grant from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) and is continuing to raise money for matching funds.

Currently, a round of ReArtFormation applications for additional pedestrian recycling bin designs is open and has been extended to April 15, 2009. The competition provides a $1,000 stipend for gathering materials. The application and guidelines are available at www.sustainindy.org.

About SustainIndy:

SustainIndy is Mayor Ballard’s bold and innovative enterprise for making Indianapolis more sustainable. Its aim is to deliver long-term cost savings to tax payers and improve our local environment, while improving the quality of life for citizens and building our local economy. Its efforts are designed to aggressively move Indianapolis toward becoming one of the most sustainable cities in the Midwest. SustainIndy is driven by the City’s Office of Sustainability and takes a public-private partnership approach to making Indianapolis a great place to live for generations to come.