LA Artist Keri Artist Keri Rosebraugh creates 20-foot sign for storefront with 6,000 pieces of repurposed trash
Los Angeles artist Keri Rosebraugh crafts a striking storefront sign. It spans 20 feet wide and 8 feet tall. Moreover, she incorporates 6,000 pieces of trash into the design. To manage the weight, she segments the sign into 5 panels. Each panel aligns perfectly with the others. Hence, this creative solution allows for secure placement. She then positions the entire assembly above the front doors of Co-op 28 Boutique. This boutique is located on Vermont Ave. in Los Feliz, CA. The installation draws attention and inspires conversation.
LA Artist Keri Rosenbraugh went Green
Los Angeles artist Keri Rosebraugh just completed work on a 20 feet wide by 8 feet tall storefront sign. She created it using 6,000 pieces of trash. The art is divided into 5 separate panels. Especially due to weight limitations. So the colorful montaged signage can be currently viewed above Co-op 28 Boutique’s front doors on Vermont Ave., in Los Feliz, CA.
Disturbed by seeing how much garbage gets thrown onto our streets every day. So Keri began picking up bottle caps, containers and wrappers. She sorted them by color, then glued them onto boards much like a mosaic or collage. Therefore, she is transforming discarded items into vibrant displays of creativity. The large size of the project required a significant amount of materials. In addition, it also inspired her to dumpster dive in nearby alleys. That’s because she kniws where sdiscovered a treasure trove of forgotten objects that others deemed worthless.
Each cap and container she salvaged told a story, making her artwork even more meaningful. As she shared her vision with friends and family, Keri found herself gradually recruiting neighbors to save their trash for her, turning an individual initiative into a community effort. This collaboration not only fostered a sense of camaraderie among the participants but also raised awareness about waste and its impact on the environment, encouraging everyone involved to rethink their relationship with the items they discard.
Environmental Trash Art
“This project was something that everybody could get involved in, because every person generates trash. I am inspired by how many people in my community came together and actually got excited to participate. Kids kept pointing out their old toothbrushes, soda cans, and other objects they donated, smiling once they found them on the sign.”
Keri’s artwork offers proof that skillful, interesting art can be environmentally-minded while being upbeat and fun at the same time.
It’s is also encouraging to know that trash destined for the landfill has found a new life as canvas and paint.
Short video of Co-op 28 signage project on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmAXdcoB5fA&feature=youtu.be
Co-op 28 sign can be viewed at:
Co-op 28 Boutique
1728 Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Conclusion
Keri Rosebraugh’s 20-foot storefront sign proves that yesterday’s trash can become tomorrow’s inspiration. Rather than viewing discarded materials as waste, she transformed more than 6,000 pieces of repurposed debris into a striking public artwork. As a result, she challenged people to rethink what they throw away and what they value. Her installation also demonstrated that creativity and sustainability can work hand in hand. It turned an ordinary storefront into a powerful conversation about consumption, reuse, and environmental responsibility.
Ultimately, projects like this remind us that sustainability is not limited to recycling bins or renewable energy. It also thrives through art, imagination, and community engagement. Every reused bottle cap, piece of plastic, or scrap of metal represents one less item headed to a landfill and one more opportunity to inspire change. In the end, Rosebraugh’s work shows that when artists see potential where others see garbage, they create more than beautiful installations—they help reshape how we think about the resources already around us.
Source: Keri Rosebraugh http://www.kerirosebraugh.com October 29, 2013, Los Angeles, CA
