is it art?

Brenda Olson “discarded” 2023, photography & digital manipulation

When I was in Palm Springs, this spring, I visited the museum. It was fabulous! This is one of my favorite things to dowhen i travel. :) I only had 3 hours until my flight was leaving to go back to Minneapolis. I set the alarm on my phone for 1 hour to take a speedy tour around the museum. I was lucky and found a parking spot right in front of the building and it was free!

I don’t know about you, but when I come out of visiting an art gallery or museum my senses are heightened. I see ART in everything. I was so intrigued by this trash discarded on the sidewalk by my car. It seemed so much like ART. I snapped a quick photo and headed off quickly to catch my plane. On the way home, while hurtling through the sky, I was looking at my photos and mocked up this photo of trash & combined it with a framed piece from the gallery.

trash on sidewalk by my car

Elevating a simple item by framing it and shining a spotlight. A full plastic container of drink - easily discarded. What led up to this being tossed on the sidewalk? The red drips reminded me of blood. The throw away society that is hurting each and every one of us. OR, it is just trash. You decide? AND, what about the person who snapped a photo of it and left it there, rushing off to be continue to engage in busy-ness. busy busy busy. (that would be me).