Riding her bicycle one afternoon through the alleyways of Durango, local artist Debra Greenblatt started thinking about dumpsters in a different light. Seeing some tagged with graffiti, she saw the trash bins as three-dimensional canvases. Greenblatt, a mother, teacher and youth advocate, decided to combine her interests into one. She contacted two organizations for troubled youth, and was successful in having her idea turned into a community service project for at-risk teens and youthful offenders. “The youth feel disenfranchised and need to express themselves,” said Greenblatt.

With the help of Doug Goldsmith, of WCA Transit Waste Co., Greenblatt received approval to decorate seven downtown dumpsters. Buoyed by the support, she applied for grants from the Friends of the Arts and the City of Durango Art Grants program. While the total amount received was less than $1,500, she was able to put the “Durango Dumpster Beautification Project” in motion. To date, two of the “container canvases” have been completed, with the remaining scheduled for completion before the weather turns too cold.

Although it is just in the beginning stages, Greenblatt said,everything has been going great. “It’s a totally fun project. This is just a great bunch of kids.”

Like most public service projects, this one requires the assistance of many, and Greenblatt is quick to acknowledge the help of Hallie Whitney, at the Phoenix Program; Tracy Bedard from MOR, a minority advocacy program through the 6th Judicial District Court; and AJ Cheripka, of La Plata County’s Useful Public Service program.

Each dumpster team is made up of an artistic designer as well as four to eight painters. As to more dumpsters are added to the mix, Greenblatt said, one idea is to have artists in town do the designs. “But for right now, I want to have the kids involved,” she said.

Anyone interested in learning more about the program or offering their services can contact Greenblatt at artfire@mydurango.net.

– Stew Mosberg