Museum of Litter

Museum of Litter encourages you: Pick up Litter. Make Art from Litter.

The Museum of Litter encourages you not only to pick up litter, but to make art from it. If it doesn't biodegrade, make art out of it. And share it .

Post your litter art on our Facebook page. 

WHY make art from litter?

• You'll be cleaning up the environment.
• You're educating observers - making people think about of the issue of litter
• You can make an artistic statement about litter-prevention.
• Art supplies are FREE (bonus for funding-deprived art teachers, summer camp counselors
• Great summer craft activity
• You'll be getting fresh air and exercising
• You're being creative
• You're saving wildlife. The birds, fish and turtles will thank you (for removing items they would ingest, but not digest, therefore killing them).

Need any ideas to get started?

Here's a few pieces of art we've made from litter:

At Left:

Black Angel of Litter

Media: Mascara Tube, Battery, Shoe Sole, Misc plastics, hair band, foam ear pad

 

 

 

 

 On Left:

Goddess of Litter

Media: KFC Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket as necklace, styrofoam (from cooler) in water, netting, ribbons (left on beach after Easter) misc plastic, hair barrette, Acrylic, Tissue, Pencil, sand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left:  The Florida Keys

Media: Found keys and compass on Canvas with acrylic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Left:

Angel of Green #13

Media: Cigarette Butts, Bottle Cap, Acrylic on Recycled Mat board, Recycled Framing and Recycled Museum Glass.

 

 

 

 

 

If you'd like to learn to make an Angel of Litter like the one above, click here:

How to Create an Angel of Litter

Please be sure to share your creations with us. We'd love to see the difference you're making in your community and the environment. We invite you to:

Post your litter art on our Facebook page. 

 

How to Create an Angel of Litter

 
 
Begin by doing a litter pick-up and collecting an assortment of litter. (You might want to wear gloves.) For this project you'll want bottle caps and paper or lightweight plastic materials. Fast food packaging: wrappers, drink cups, bags, and napkins are usually found in abundance everywhere.

Make an angel shape. A visual sample is below. You can use a stiff piece of paper or lightweight cardboard that can be cut easily with scissors. A 3 x 5 index card works well. If you make a template you can trace it for use over and over without having to draw the angel shape each time.

If you've cut the angel shape from litter that has a pleasing design, leave the front as is. For a mixed media collage, feel free to embellish it with other small pieces of litter. You're limited only by your imagination and there are lots of unusual bits of litter to be found.

HOW TO MAKE AN ANGEL OF LITTER FROM CIGARETTE BUTTS:

If you'd like to make an angel from cigarette butts, GREAT, as cigarette butts are the #1 littered item on the planet. Collect the butts. You'll need approximately 11 to 15 butts per angel. Remove the tobacco and filter and keep the paper. (See NOTE* below)  
 
NOTE:  CAUTION & DISCLAIMER: I use sharp scissors to strip the butts neatly. If you're doing this project with kids you might want to do this part for them or let them tear the cigarette butts to remove the tobacco. I do this outside and let the tobacco return to the earth. You might want to notice which way the wind is blowing! The filters are plastic and have chemicals so make sure to either use them in art or dispose of them in the trash.

Use craft glue to attach cigarette paper or other litter to angel. When you are happy with the result glue a bottle cap to the top for a head.  If you want you can glue a magnet to the back. If you're concerned about germs, coat the front of the angel with a coat of clear paint.

 
That's it...Congratulations! You've got an Angel of Litter.