Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Half Ton of Aluminum Cans and Various Other Things

This afternoon, I chose a bale of compressed aluminum soda and beer cans at Spectrum Metal Recycling. They'll power wash the bale and on Thursday afternoon, Bobby Schlitzberger will cart if off to the Second Seating space where it will not move a fraction of an inch until the show is over.
Today I learned that it takes just six weeks to manufacture a can, fill it, sell it, recycle it and then remanufacture another can from the original metal. This process goes on forever. The same aluminum will be back somewhere on a shelf within sixty days. And someone will drink the Coke or Bud Light or whatever, throw the can out and all will begin again.
In the last twenty years Anheuser-Busch Recycling Subsidiary has recycled 8 billion pounds of cans from 48 states. There are 30-32 cans per pound. Do the math.
I set my alarm for 5:40 this morning so I could be at Fiesta at 6:00 a.m. to pick up a load of corrugated boxes to assemble a table top for this bale of cans. I am going to try fashioning a tabletop of layered boxes held together with staples and glue. It will either work - or not. Should have some paint on it too. I will get up early again on Thursday a.m. to retrieve more boxes. Then will set to work once the compressed bale of can is in place.
Also worked on the Bayou, Bay, Beach chandelier a bit this morning after the tirp to Fiesta. When I finished stretching and pinning the fabric over the frame, I'll hand sew it on and then call Gonzo247 who will come for it and so some aerosol oceany, oystery stuff on the fabric.
There is so much still to do. Actual artwork. More media stuff. Planning for the openngModelle and I will talk about all of this on Thursday. Melissa and I talked about money tonight and that always does me in and I get nervous. Because I know what I do with a project, any project. I'll do it right. And not think about the money.
If the wall needs repainting, or I decide to make shelving for the plates, or pay someone to hang track lights, or ask another person to develop a trove of music to play in the space, or think it's a good idea to hire mariachis for the opening reception, well, then all these things happen. And each costs money. But if all these things make the show terrific, I'd say it's money well spent.
So, the point here is that it's good that I have a friend keeping track of the money.
I am tired. I need to go to bed and not think about this anymore. Funny thing is, I hardly know how to read a magazine when I get into bed now. All is Second Seating. Totally absorbing.
By the way, I did get everything done on today's list. Seemed as if I was in the car all day long.

2 comments:

Mary said...

That is why i never feel bad about choosing a can over a plastic bottle...way more recycable.

Sharon said...

Then it was a good day:)