HAPPENING NOW: Earth Day art installation on Alki

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11:29 AM: Thanks to the texter who sent that photo just as we were heading out to check on this art installation under way right now on Alki. The display has been in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar for tomorrow for a while, since it’s an official Earth Day event, but it’s so big that it’s being assembled today, sponsored by the thrift-shop chain Value Village, “using thousands of pieces of used clothing to represent the amount of clothing that ends up in the landfill.” VV is hoping you’ll instead be inspired to “reuse and recycle.”

1:51 PM: Just back from Alki. This is happening east of the Bathhouse, across from Pepperdock, on part of the north side of the path and continuing down onto the beach. A closeup look reveals messages like this:

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The installation is striking, from any direction:

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We were asked via Instagram what happens to the hundreds and hundreds of pounds of clothing after the installation’s run tomorrow is done. (update) A VV spokesperson says the clothing all came from the chain and afterward: “Each piece of clothing will be sent back to Savers/Value Village to be sorted through the typical process at their local recycling center in Fife.”

6 Replies to "HAPPENING NOW: Earth Day art installation on Alki"

  • chemist April 21, 2016 (3:31 pm)

    Reminds me of one of my favorite episodes of the Planet Money podcast – The Afterlife of a TShirt.    Things that won’t sell locally are often shipped overseas to be sold in bulk to merchants and many get trimmed down to more useful sizes instead of XXL.

    http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/08/26/434988401/episode-502-the-afterlife-of-a-t-shirt

  • sam-c April 21, 2016 (3:36 pm)

    That installation is beautiful. Thanks for posting photos.

    I know I’ve thrown away clothes before, but I haven’t since your post about donating unwearable clothes (a post from the past).    It feels weird to send single socks, ripped and stained shirts, and whatnot to Goodwill, but you can.

  • seaopgal April 21, 2016 (3:54 pm)

    Cool … will check it out. Thanks!

  • padyak April 21, 2016 (4:42 pm)

    This is really eye-catching! I love the transition of color. I try my best to donate my clothes but there are definitely moments in the past where I haven’t. Nice visual, I will remember this.

  • rb April 21, 2016 (6:47 pm)

     lets  all take the bus to go see

    • WSB April 21, 2016 (6:54 pm)

      Lot of people walking/riding by when we were there.

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