City of Austin

Austin volunteers will gather Saturday, Dec. 15, to co-create a 14-foot high “Plastic Storm” sculpture made of thousands of reclaimed plastic bottles, cups, jars and bottle caps.

Anyone, age 12 or older, can participate in assembling the massive "storm,” the brainchild of Austin artist George Sabra to represent plastic waste generated daily.

Volunteers will help assemble the sculpture by sliding prepped materials onto metal rods. Volunteers will receive training and instructions by the artist. Groups are welcome. To register or find additional upcoming volunteer opportunities, visit www.KeepAustinBeautiful.org/PlasticStorm.

This project, a partnership between the City of Austin and Austin nonprofit Keep Austin Beautiful, intends to raise awareness around the damage caused by polluting landfills and oceans with non-recyclable plastics that do not biodegrade.

 “This will be a unique event for anyone interested in the arts, zero waste, civic volunteering or spending time outdoors,” said Kevin Shaw, Civic Arts Program Coordinator with the City of Austin.

The work will be unveiled Dec. 31, 2012, as part of the third annual Austin's New Year, a free family-friendly festival on Auditorium Shores where participants will be asked to make a resolution to reduce, reuse and recycle more in 2013 and beyond.

“A sculpture of this scope takes many partners,” Keep Austin Beautiful Executive Director Rodney Ahart said. “We are thankful for George’s creative vision that is sustainably minded and the volunteers who have already responded to support the project.”

Sabra has worked exclusively with reclaimed and discarded materials for 27 years. By creating something beautiful out of plastic bottles, Sabra hopes to inspire people to think about the amount of plastic waste they generate. Learn more at www.plasticstormsculpture.com and www.austintexas.gov/any.