Presented with support from the Capitol Riverfront BID in Washington, DC, two hundred sixty (260) discarded plastic bags were hand-cut into nearly 5,000 circles which were then used to create approximately 550 cherry blossoms. Visitors to the National Cherry Blossom Festival folded the petals which were added to the arbor in real time. Engaging the community in the creation process raised awareness about the importance of reducing waste to protect the environment. (Re)Purposed Petals focused on reducing the use of plastic bags in order to protect the environment that nourishes Washington, DC's celebrated cherry blossom trees. To extend its reach, the completed installation was displayed at local businesses including the Thompson Hotel, District Winery, and Kilwins.
Capitol Riverfront BID, permanent collection
Cover photograph by Monica Servaites
8' x 5.5' x 1.5 '