Art in Action

Created by artist Nikki Küntzlef PHOTO CHRISTINE KERRIGAN

Some people may love the sight of brown compost bins, because of what they represent. However, a brown plastic rectangle on wheels may not be the most visually stunning object in town. Or could it be? What if you sprinkle it with a bit of pizzazz and a touch of "jazz hands"?

Over the summer, I pitched in one Saturday to help out on a project called CABO (Le Club des Amoureux des Bacs Organiques), which took place in my Montréal neighbourhood. Created by ATSA (When Art Takes Action), in collaboration with Fred P Corson and the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough, CABO invited neighbourhood residents to spruce up their compost bins by turning them into personalized works of art.

Created by artist Julian Palma PHOTO CHRISTINE KERRIGAN

For two weeks in August, 15 local artists were matched with 15 families in the neighbourhood. Each artist drew inspiration from conversations and exchanges with their family in order to transform a compost bin into an original work of art. In September, the colorful parade of newly designed bins was marched over to the edge of a public square, the Fleurs-de-Macadam, where each took its place, much like the guards at Buckingham Palace. Finally, on September 26, citizens were invited to participate in a free on-site workshop, where they were given a compost bin, paints, brushes, stencils, and lots of positive encouragement to design their own bins. Some people chose to use stencils and replicate one of the 15 works adorning the park, and some others chose to fly carte blanche and make their own unique creations.

ATSA Workshop (September 26, 2020) PHOTO JEAN FRANÇOIS LAMOUREUX

As a parting gesture, a Hollywood / Bollywood style red carpet was placed at the exit area, so people could proudly wheel their new creations down the red carpet. Kids grinned ear to ear with pride as they showed off their personalized works of art before exiting stage left.

The sight of kids and adults proudly wheeling their painted bins down Avenue Mont Royal garnered intrigue and interest from many passing by. People stopped to inquire about how they could get involved in the project and several said they were inspired to go home and customize their own compost bins.

Of all of the worthwhile urban design projects that took place in Montréal this summer, I must say that CABO was my "coup de coeur" (or "projet chouchou" as we say in Québec). It serves as a great reminder of the power of art to transform spaces, build community, educate, and inspire. If you try sitting your five-year old son down to discuss "the benefits that composting has on our ecosystem", you may see his eyes glaze over and wander longingly out the window at his shiny red bike. However, give him a paintbrush to decorate his own brown bin and now you're talk'n...and he may very well be listen'n. As an added bonus, customized bins also make it rather obvious to spot those infamous bin magicians in the neighbourhood (spoken from a Plateau resident who has seen two bins "magically disappear"). The beauty of this project is that it can be replicated in pretty much any town or city and it encourages interaction between people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.

Yesterday, I was walking in the neighbourhood and passed by one of the painted bins standing proudly at attention in front of a local resident's house. It made me smile and also inspired me to share this project with a wider audience. Thank you to ATSA, the artists, and collaborators for using art to help people put words into action!

If you’re curious to learn more about ATSA, feel free to visit their website.

Video by ATSA (in French)

The Show Must Go On!

Tuning in to Public Space

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