Okay, I won't even get started on the whole commercialism of Earth Day, aka, the new Christmas. Ick. Is this really a reason for a sale at Home Depot? Or Best Buy? Or Bob's Matresses? I'm ashamed of our culture sometimes.
Here is one of my favorite executions of recycling: take something that is almost impossible to discard (because of the inaccessibility of proper disposal - read Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air if you haven't already to understand the lethal beauty and futility of climbing Everest). Bells of Everest, located in Maine, collects discarded aluminum oxygen tanks and turns them into unique bells and gorgeous bowls. Even the scraps from separating the two halves get made into lovely ornaments. I love the idea of taking something so utilitarian and turning it into something beautiful when its useful life is over, rather than letting it forever litter the side of a mountain. If you can't make it to the top of the world, at least a bit of it can come to you.
{the bottom of a tank makes a stunning bowl, from Bells of Everest}
7 comments:
These are gorgeous. What a lovely idea! I liked knowing the background story too.
I've never seen these before, but what a great idea, even better because of the story behind them.
Debby
What's neat about these is that you can appreciate how lovely they are now without even knowing what they once were. But the backstory certainly adds to their allure.
These are so wonderful...thanks for sharing!
I have a brother-in-law who used to make lamps out of old scuba tanks.
Hi Robin, I hit upon your Blog and had to write. I wanted to thank you for your kind and eloquent words. It has been such a great adventure with many wonderful rewards. My daughter will be telling my great grand children about her crazy father who had to go to the top of the world to pick us trash.
Jeff Clapp
Bell Guy
Thanks Jeff for stopping by my blog, and for keeping the top of the world a little cleaner!
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