Reduce and reimagine

Last update: March 17, 2009 - 11:21 AM

A huge collection of waste will soon be on display at the tony Galleria mall in Edina. What's up with that? It's actually a giant sculpture constructed of 1,500 plastic water bottles. It's also a sneak preview of the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum's summer exhibit, "Waterosity: Go Green With a Splash."

Each day, about 60 million water bottles are added to U.S. landfills, according to the International Bottled Water Association. The sculpture, dubbed "Take Back the Tap: Protect Our Environment," depicts a huge water bottle, measuring 23 feet long, 7 1/2 feet high and 10 feet wide. Located at Galleria's west end in the Big Bowl Courtyard, the sculpture will be surrounded by native Minnesota plants and grasses, to serve as a visual reminder that less than 20 percent of plastic bottles are recycled.

"Take Back the Tap" was created by Debra Ensteness, owner of Landscapes by Dae, and Sheila Hawthorne, founder of Hawthorne Landscape Designs. The sculpture will be on display at the Galleria through April 30.

KIM PALMER

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