Fine art major Parker Galen creates sculptures largely from trash and found objects that seek to challenge the viewer’s perception of garbage and serve as a criticism of the waste and excess that is a result of late-stage capitalism. Having worked various retail jobs, Galen quickly took note of how much trash was being produced and thrown out every day, but rather than just seeing trash, he saw potential for innovative materials. Ends of receipt paper rolls, bread twist ties, cardboard, the tabs on grocery bags that are typically discarded, Parker spent months gathering and experimenting with these materials as he developed his own visual vocabulary in his sculptural works.
