People watching on the streets of Newhall in the Arts and Theatre District can sometimes be a fascinating way to pass the time. Now you can add, trash can sightings to your list of visual stimuli. Thanks to the efforts of the City of Santa Clarita Arts and Events office, ten 55-gallon metal cans have been beautified by artists and placed along San Fernando Road between Lyons Avenue and 5th Street.
Ten artists from a pool of 35 applicants were chosen last summer by the Santa Clarita Arts Advisory Committee to utilize the trash cans as a canvas for their talents and create works that are focused on the “History of Santa Clarita” and the “Street as an Art Gallery”.
The Magazine of Santa Clarita caught up with several of the winning artists, including Anne Marie Darrach of Valencia. She created the “Where’s Vasquez?” can.
“My husband suggested the idea as a sort of joke at first and the committee liked it because they felt if was very interactive. I designed it as a take-off of the, ‘Where’s Waldo?’ cartoons with a sort of storybook-like feel to it,” says Darrach.
Mike Burton, Saugus, is thrilled that people are recognizing his hallmark eagle art on one of the cans.
“Quite a few people have seen my art on the trash can and have asked me if it’s my work. I like seeing how much they like it. It makes me feel good. My Mother and Grandmother were both artists and I’ve been drawing since I was a child. Now I’m passing it on and have taught my daughter Jeanette how to hold a pencil and draw even before she could walk,” says Burton.
Ray Pinjanthuk, Castaic is originally from Thailand and is proud to have his art showcased on one of the cans. Art has had a hold of Pinjanthuk ever since his father placed a camera in his hand at the age of eight.
“My art on the trash can project has allowed me the opportunity to get to know more people and join the community,” says Pinjanthuk, who recently joined the Santa Clarita Artists Association, “I like to present images of our landscape to people who wouldn’t normally be able to see it. The pink flower on my can is an image of a flower that I saw along the roadside in Santa Clarita.”
All of the artists kept in step with the theme of the project and city officials are proud of the results.
“We are so excited to showcase these magnificent canvases of art. The painted trash cans will serve to visually stimulate the environment of the Newhall Arts and Theatre District and increase the amount of trash cans in the area to create a cleaner section of the City,” commented Mayor Marsha McLean.
No excuse for adding graffiti to these wonderful works of art. Each one is specially coated with an anti-graffiti substance. Besides, trash belongs inside, not outside of these decorated cans. Make disposing of your garbage a beautiful thing for the environment and your eyes.