Trash Talk
by Jena, a green-living, art-loving girl
Last week as I drove to work, I passed a beautiful eco-friendly trash truck. That darn thing nearly brought a tear to my eye. Now I know you’re thinking “how can a trash truck be (a) beautiful, (b) eco-friendly and (c) a tear jerker?” I’ll have to admit, it was my first time to look at a trash truck and smile. It was no ordinary trash truck. It was a Red River Service Corporation household waste collection truck, proudly displaying the winning artwork from Red River’s annual “Go Green to Keep Nashville Clean” art contest.
The art contest, now in its fourth year, is open to all Metro 3rd and 4th graders. More than 100 students from 46 elementary schools entered their creative interpretations of what it means to go green and keep our city clean. I had the honor of seeing each piece of meticulously colored artwork, and let me tell ya…these kids have talent!
Both the winners’ and finalists’ artwork from the contest are displayed on Red River trucks for the next six months as part of a citywide campaign to promote recycling and city beautification. I don’t know about you, but I would be pretty excited as a third or fourth grader to have my artwork splashed on the side of a big truck.
It was the excitement of these winning young artists–along with the help of some hot chocolate and hot Krispy Kreme Original Glazed ® doughnuts–that kept us warm on a recent wintry December morn for the public viewing event. Eighteen Red River trucks lined the street on Titans Way down at L.P. Field as the proud winners, parents, art teachers and principals came out to see their art on display. Each winner was also honored at the event with a certificate presented by Mayor Dean and passes to local art organizations such as Cheekwood and the Nashville Children’s Theatre. Grand prize winners even earned cash for their schools’ art departments! Big props to the Beautification and Environment Commission, Nashville Arts Coalition, Metro Council members, Public Works, Metro Nashville schools, and of course Red River for putting together such a stellar program!
As a self-labeled “green girl” (I love recycling, reusable grocery bags and supporting all things local), as well as art junkie (I love funky interpretations of just about anything, and if you tell me a piece of art is done by a local artist, I’m 10 times more likely to buy–or at least covet), this art contest speaks to my soul on multiple levels. You can imagine my excitement when I heard I would get to help with the logistics of this contest upon joining Hall Strategies this past June. I’ll have to admit, it turned out even more exciting than I imagined. And the fun is just getting started. The trucks will be going on tour to the participating elementary schools each Monday of the spring semester.
Keep your eyes peeled. These artful trucks are on their routes around town each day serving as a “rolling canvas”, and you can see for yourself what these talented young Nashvillians created from their brightly colored crayon boxes. Trust me, you’ll be impressed!