Monument to Footscray- Interview

This is the interview by Ebru Halimoff that was published in the Maribyrnong Star Weekly 

Footscray artist Carolyn Cardinet’s message against littering

Ebru Halimoff

| 13:22:PM 10/12/2014

Wednesday December 17, 2014

 Carolyn Cardinet and her artwork created from waste. 

Photo: Damjan Janevski

A local artist has created art from Footscray’s waste and plastic debris to highlight the problem of littering.

Carolyn Cardinet’s Monument to Footscray is on display in the courtyard of Footscray library until December 20.  Ms Cardinet has been collecting white waste from local streets and has been keeping a record of her findings in Footscray. She says three totems she built in the public area represent what she has seen in Footscray. “I’m doing this because plastic is full of contaminates,” she said. “It releases toxins when in the water, polluting the water and finding its way back into our food.

“We should use glass containers and stop polluting the beautiful earth

or simply recycle waste rather than producing more.”

Ms Cardinet has specifically collected white waste and washed it several times before creating 

the monument. 

“The idea of displaying white waste is to represent the idea that plastic 

can be reused to reduce pollution and littering,” 

She also says her work draws a connection between the area’s Aboriginal past and the present.

Ms Cardinet, an artist of 16 years, will have an exhibition, White Trash, in St Kilda in mid-July next year and is inviting residents to view her work and feel the connection between art and waste. 

“It’s nice to come out of the isolation of the studio 

and share my work with the people 

while conveying a great message.”

                                      

         'Monument to Footscray' 2014