This to That

Here's the story about Trash Castle and the journey from here to there...from this to that...from Kehoe Beach to Huntington Beach...

It may be a stereotype but glamorous “fake” fingernails seem so very SoCal…so we knew we had arrived, when the first plastic we found in the sand at Huntington Beach was not one but two plastic nails. 

It is the unexpected finds like those that keep us intrigued and energized to continue the crazy work of picking up plastic. Plus, it is the fun in making a difference in our community and on the planet that brings us and so many people out for Coastal Clean Up Day, to be a part of the Orange County Coastkeepers Day of Action,  to join forces with others to just do something...just do one thing...

In 1999 we forged an artist partnership that we call One Beach Plastic to work with plastic found on Kehoe Beach. Since then, as our collection of plastic has grown, we have grown as individuals and as collaborators. Now after so many years, we understand the challenges and pleasures of working with each other and we have worked successfully with many others who have helped to enlarge our project, adding other circles to our set. We appreciate the lively conversations that ensue when problem solving big issues about installations and exhibitions. As we like to say, we play well with others.

In June, we were contacted by the CalTrans Stormwater Public Education Campaign — an initiative with the message of connecting-the-dots from street to the tideline; from the gutter to beach. They wanted a "Trash Castle." 

We knew that there would be many details to work out when preparing for a visionary project of this scale so we were relieved and thrilled!!! when our proposal made it through all of the hoops, giving us the opportunity to work with CalTrans and a great team of advertising people and filmmakers: D&A Communications, Sagent Marketing, Audacy, and Wingman63.

Proposed site

Proposal-Trash Castle from a distance

Proposal-Trash Castle closer up

    

On September 1 and 2, the film crew from Wingman63 (Ben, Aaron, Gary plus Andi from afar) arrived to document our our process — you know it’s a big deal when there is a make-up person (Joslyn) with breakfast and lunch provided. After all of the to-do and fretting about what would or would not make the cut we are tickled with the Trash Castle Promo PSA that rolled out in advance of the event.

Lookin' good

Of late, with all of the news of the British royals, castles are definitely in the air. Along with Buckingham, Windsor, Balmoral our “Trash Castle” fits right in to the zeitgeist of pomp and ceremony.

It was a Brit who first said, “An Englishman’s home is his castle.”

“Trash Castle says, it’s time for some planetary housekeeping.”

We’ve been musing about the magic and metaphor of building sandcastles — on the beach when after hours of sculpting, as the tide turns high, with one big wave, the edifice is washed away. Such is the transitory nature that gives a special meaning to the making.

And, so too, with our presentation on 9/17 — after days and days of construction, “Trash Castle” was a here-then-gone 5-hour experience. It was our hope that after spending the morning looking down searching for plastic, Coastal Clean Up Day participants, would look up and would be uplifted as they marvel at the variety and amount of plastic on our castle towers. Although the plastic will endure, “Trash Castle” on Huntington Beach is intended to be ephemeral, remaining only as a memory and as a call to action.

On September 14 we packed up and headed south, driving a cargo van to HB. The super bonus for the trip — a family fest. Judith's sister Janis (Check her blog Shoresweep) and brother-in-law Paul were there to help with the install. Richard's daughter Amelia and boyfriend Greg made the trek from LA to HB to see the TC in place.  

Out the door

Loading up

The site- just as we had envisioned

Paul unloading

Carrying the cutlery

Did someone say, "steak?"

Janis and Richard figuring the placement

Trash Castle triumph!!!

There were good sign(s) that invited a closer look with an iSpy game. Fun to see kids running in and among the towers on the hunt for the count.

Sunny, breezy, a day fit for royalty. With the colorful flags, blowing in the breeze, Trash Castle worked its magic. It was an easy set up and easy take down. We claimed HB as our scene of triumph and left without a trace.

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This to That — Towers of Power

All of the plastic materials for our Trash Castle were sourced from Kehoe Beach with the exception of the PVC pipe armature and the metal rebars for mounting. In addition, to enhance the castle fantasy, a colorful pennant flew from each pole (some of this plastic material was from the beach and some was purchased). The ropes and tie-ons were all from a "ghost net" that we untangled and deconstructed.

There is a distinctive theme for each tower focusing on:

Single-use water bottles with labels — highlighting the international flavor of what washes up. The ocean as the great conveyor — bringing their bottles here, our bottles there. 

Straws — just ask, do I need this?

Caps and lids  — threaded on rope, hung in stacks of colorful arrangements. 

Visors — inside of every baseball/sports cap there is a thin slip of plastic, the bill.

Drink cups (splayed) — for smoothies, juice, coffee, Frappicinos. 

 Wrappers — from sweet to savory, candy to food wrappers.

Cutlery — forks, knives, spoons — is that for here or to go?

Mylar light-than-air Balloons

Beauty Bar —  toothbrushes — could that have once been mine?

Rainbow — Red- fruit and vegetable bags

        Orange - tarp with pull-tabs

        Yellow - raincoat with lemon squeezers

        Green - plastic bags with agricultural ties

        Blue - shopping bags with styrofoam meat trays

        Purple - juice caps

Foam — a stack of chunks of expanded polystyrene, exuded polystyrene, styrofoam

Single-use water bottles without labels

Just orange for CalTrans

Shotgun Wads

Translucents — bags, wrappings, packaging

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This to That — in the news

Instagram and Twitter ruled the news with these posts and Loren Magaña, manager of the CalTrans Storm Water Campaign, told NBC the important story.

Watch this Instagram video by Park Ranger Michelle Figueroa @castateparksoc that will give you a glimpse of how the wind enlivened the Trash Castle. 

With Senator Dave Min

With CalTrans

With NBC

More Than 11K Pounds of Trash Picked Up in Orange County Event More than 11,000 pounds of trash was collected Saturday at over 40 sites along Orange County beaches and channels and in parks in an event aimed at keeping it out of the ocean. More than 2,500 ... www.nbclosangeles.com

With Spectrum News

Trash Castle will debut at Coastal Cleanup Day HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — As tens of thousands of Californians take to the beach with shovels and trash bags Saturday for the 38 th annual Coastal Cleanup Day, visitors to the Huntington Beach cleanup will be greeted with a trash castle.Created by Marin County artists Richard and Judith Lang and presented as part of the California Department of Transportation’s Stormwater education ... spectrumnews1.com

This to That, the Trash Castle Promo

We LOL every time we watch this 30 seconds of joy. Take after take we repeated the lines — trying to get the words and the cadence just right. 

BIG THANKS to the Wingman63 film crew: Ben Garland, Aaron Katter, Gary Blake, Andi Poch and makeup artist Joslyn Soliman for making us sound and look good.

that’s what she said…

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This to That — you're invited

Join Caltrans #Stormwater Program, @TheCACoast and @OCCoastkeeper at 22355 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach from 9am-2pm on Saturday, September 17th for #CoastalCleanup day & make sure to check out our piece “Trash Castle”, which shows the impact of pollution on our #CleanWater. Visit CleanWaterCA.com for more info.

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