Cardgarden – Proposal – by Lee Porter

Cardgarden.
Art made by Anyone & Everyone & You.

Happiness is not permanent.
Sadness is not permanent.
Real flowers are not permanent.
They all fade away.
Unfortunately, corporate plastic cards are permanent and can harm the environment.
Now flowers can be permanent.
Recycle … Share … Enjoy … Breathe.
Cardgarden.
Art made by Anyone & Everyone & You.

Background:
Over the last 20-some years, I have saved most every plastic card in my life – expired credit cards, hotel room cards & used gift cards. Plastic is toxic for the environment – disposed plastic cards can release harmful chemicals into the soil and thus harm water that species drink. However, while some companies have chosen to go with ecofriendly card options, most corporations continue to produce these plastic cards, and the general population simply discards them in the trash. The goal is make something beautiful out of something ugly – turn a positive out of a negative.

Call for Artists:
A group of artists come together to make flowers out of this large collection of plastic cards. Professionals. Crafty non-professionals. Students. Everyone.

Space:
A public space for this garden – small white box, coffee shop, etc. — somewhere the public can access during the day.

A Garden Grows:
With the right space, the public can donate cards & take (selected) flowers home with them. Possibly a 10-for-1 or 20-for-1 card donation-flower exchange, depending on flowers.

These flowers are not meant to live in one space. To spread awareness, to remind everyone how toxic these plastic cards can be, the public will be able to take a flower home with them. Depending on flower size and design, the public are welcome to donate cards (10 or 20) in exchange for one to take home.

A Garden Grows Even More:
This garden is not meant to live in one space. The goal is to move to a larger space that accommodates the garden in one room and a studio space for everyone to keep producing new flowers, along with storage for donated cards.

The Dream:
Turn this project into a nonprofit. Sell t-shirts. Raising money for mental health.

Cardgardens in all towns, neighborhoods, communities.

What if we all made Cardgardens everywhere?

Cardgarden.
Art made by Anyone & Everyone & You.