Kenneth Lamborn

Professor Sarah Newlands

Work of Art
Spring 2014
Art & Garbage Artists Statement
Delivery, Kenneth Lamborn, 2014
Glass Bottles, Paper, Wood, Wax, Plastic, Soil, Sticks, Twine
According to the Container Recycling Institute, the United States recycled
only 33 percent of its glass bottles in 2010. Countries like Belgium, Switzerland, and
the Netherlands achieved percentages over 90% thanks to distribution and
recollection mandates for corporations at the federal level, proving that the days of
modern waste handling are upon us, but that much of the world is hesitating to
follow suit.
It was these statistics that inspired me to create Delivery. Knowing that the
technology exists to make use almost all of the materials we waste is frustrating
considering how little actions is being taken to employ it into our modern societies.
When I saw the pile of glass bottles in my own recycling bin, I pictured them
awkwardly shoved into the soil along with a hodgepodge of other non-decomposing
materials. It was a sad mental image, but one that I felt important to recreate.
My work itself is a small, decorative object made from all waste or organic
material. The funny thing about my project is that its still garbage. It has no use.
These objects are as uncomfortably put together as they would be in a landfill, but
the presentation of my piece evokes a vase or centerpiece. From the perspective of
an art historian, perhaps Delivery reminds the viewer of Marcel Duchamps assisted
readymades, works of art created from found objects and assembled into new
objects. His readymades made the viewer think about the object they were viewing
in a whole new way, and I like to think that is what my little sculpture does as well.
That is, in fact, the formal aspect of my work that interests me so much. As I
state just above, my little sculpture is just trashnothing more than a decorative
item that could be tossed out tomorrow. The shape, form, and color make it
something that could be displayed in a home or office window. This contradiction is
beautiful. It confuses the viewer, and helps them to both intellectually and
emotionally engage with the piece before them.
Moving towards the future, Delivery proves that as we move into the modern
world of our dreams, we can draw inspiration from past artists (such as Duchamp,
in my case) to create works that send a message appropriate for our times. The
technology is there for humans to do almost anything, including restoring our planet
for future generations. But alas, humans do love to ignore their problems.