Friday, October 31, 2003

Greenwich Village Halloween Parade
NYC Cultural Challenge Summons Action on Specter of Industrial Revolution, Plastic, at Greenwich Village Halloween Parade

NEW YORK, NY October 31, 2003 - On Halloween night, Pop Sustainability gave a ghastly head start on its plastics challenge to New Yorkers by making a statement at the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade. Pop Sustainability entered the parade with a giant web made of reused plastic 6-pack rings as a demonstration of the tangled nature of the issues related to our use of plastics. This enormous piece of sustainable art was ushered up 6 th Avenue by eight dancing nymphs. Pop Sustainability, a 501(c)3 non-profit established in 1998, utilizes popular culture mediums such as TV, film, music, art, dance and fashion to inspire young adults to catalyzing a more sustainable society.

Angela Lindvall, celebrity Model, founder of The Collage Foundation and NYC Cultural Challenge stated that, “Currently, only a nominal portion of plastics consumed in America are recyclable. Those that cannot be recycled are thrown into dumps and landfills where they will remain for the next 500 hundred years. Most, if incinerated, release deadly toxins and heavy metals into the atmosphere. Medical researchers have long agreed that 90-95% of cancers would be eliminated if the carcinogens in plastics and other man-made materials didn't exist.”

“After the reinstatement of the plastics recycling program in New York City, residents are more confused than ever,” added Pop Sustainability's Executive Director, Kim Heismann. “Our goal is to educate New Yorkers about the program and get them excited about recycling. Not only that, we hope to educate the populous about the incredible line of new plastics available as a much more sustainable alternative to the plastics currently on the market.”

The elaborate web, composed of thousands of plastic six-pack holders, was weaved together with plastic binding, and was strung along between eight talented modern dancers. The plastic nymphs, clad in clear recycling bags, demonstrated what types of plastics are being recycled in New York City today. On route, the dancers rid the streets of plastic materials that litter the streets. These recyclable bits found along the parade route were cleverly placed inside the bags and carried within the costumes worn by the dancers. Audience members cheered on the unusual spectacle and shouted out the message carried on signs in front of the web, “Recycle Plastics!”

Famed costume designer Agata Oleksiak and choreographer extraordinaire Rachel Cohen were the creative force behind the project. The duo had little time to complete the project, but expect to wow the audience with their amazing spectacle. “We couldn't be more excited about the project,” stated Cohen. Oleksiak agreed. “We wanted to do something enormous; something that really spoke to the people.”

The plastic six-pack holders were donated to Pop Sustainability by enviro-rocker Chris Pan who had been collecting the holders in protest since Rudolph Gulianni's second term in office. Wryly, Pan stated, “Over the past six years, I thought about sending them to City Hall, but I don't think they would have got it.” At this time, New York City does not recycle plastic six-pack holders.

What will happen to these rescued plastic six-pack holders after the parade? Instillation artist David Poppie plans on using the rings once again when Halloween is over and creating his own piece of art from the plastic. “I don't know what I'm going to do with them yet, but I'm very excited to see what will happen.”

© 2002 POP SUSTAINABILITY