Meet the girls of Trash Mash-Up!  Bridget and Jessica McCracken are the brains behind this eco-friendly operation.  They reduce waste by taking refuse and transforming it into art and they love working with the community hands-on by creating theatrical productions that are based in the San Francisco area.  I had the opportunity to ask them a few questions recently and here is what they had to say about Trash Mash-Up, working together, and how they celebrate a Green Halloween every year!

How did the Trash Mash-Up idea and name come to be?

Both Jessie and I have been interested in theater and puppets since we were kids growing up in Michigan.  Our parents have always supported our creativity and encouraged us to give back to our community.  When Jessie moved to San Francisco in 2004 (I had been here since 2001), we wanted to establish a community based art project that built creative connections in neighborhood of need.  We saw a need for public space and parks to be fostered for children and families in the Western Addition.  Jessie and I both wanted to work with trash to discuss issues of consumption and environmental justice but in a way that was fun, creative and not didactic.  Trash Mash-Up brings all of these aspects together in a collaborative community art project.

The McCracken sisters: Bridget and Jesse

How do you like working together?

It is amazing to collaborate with my sister.  TMU is a family affair.  Our youngest sister, Kate and our parents, Bill and Louise are on our advisory board.  But it is Jessie and myself who are the teaching artists and Managing and Artistic Directors.  Being sisters we are able to communicate ideas easily and come for a similar art background, both having studied and worked for The Dell’Arte Company.  Although we share similar training, we each bring our own style and ideas to the table.

This little girl is all dressed up and ready for the show!

What is your favorite aspect of the business?

My favorite aspect is leading the workshops.  Theater and art improves students’ self-confidence, communication skills and builds empathy for others.  They transform the learning process. It is amazing the dramatic changes and positive effects of students collaborating in creative ways.  I am always surprised by their solutions and their ability to describe their process.

Recycle and Reuse seems to be the Trash Mash Up theme and we love seeing it turn into art!

What is Your future vision of the Trash Mash-Up idea?

We are hoping to bring Trash Mash-Up to communities across the United States and world.  We are working on revising our study guide in order to better assist the spread of creative reuse.  TMU has had the opportunity to mash it up in Costa Rica, New York, Portland, and even our hometown of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.  Jessie and I look forward to additional community partnerships from around the world.

Great costumes made from recycled materials to put on a show for diverse communities in the San Francisco area.

How do you plan on celebrating a Green Halloween this year?

Trash Mash-Up is thrilled to be apart of the Yerba Buena Garden Festival’s Halloween Hoopla : Dance & Parade for Kids. This is the 11th annual YBGF Halloween program and will featuring interactive performances and games for kids. The Unique Derique hosts, The Venezuelan Music Project plays live music, Preston folds origami and Trash Mash-Up will be creating masks, eco-warrior medallions, noise makers and a Trash Monster for the costume parade. Just before the hoopla ends, children under ten accompanied by adults are invited to parade in their Halloween finery!

Empowering the community through the arts!

Get in on the fun of Trash Mash-Up!  Here are the best ways to contact Bridget and Jesse:

Email: trashmashup@gmail.com

Website: http://www.trashmashup.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/trashmashup

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/TrashMashUp

Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trashmashup/

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/trashmashup

Laurali Star can be found on The Damsel in the Attic!

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

Check out these fun and quirky handmade costumes by Shawn Connally, the director of digital media for Maker Media and  Craftzine!  Kudos to her for these winning looks!

Super cute & crafty lego costume!

Quirky homemade costumes

Adorable Kids Star Wars Costume

Hand-crafted Yoda Costume...too cute!

Blogger Laurali Star can also be found on The Damsel in theAttic and be sure to check out her blog!

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

Reuse, Recycle, Go Green!

Blogger Laurali Star can also be found on The Damsel in the Attic or on her personal blog.

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

The Environmental Working Group recently released a report on 173 water bottle products and came up with some surprising results!  You may think its safe to drink your water but much of the information disclosed by the water bottle companies are kept top secret from consumers.  The EWG, a non profit organization, mined for details on where the water comes from, how or if the water is treated, and even went so far to act as consumers, making calls to water bottle companies to see if they would reveal all.  Undeniably, many companies weren’t so forthcoming with the results.

Here are the three brands that made top rank:  Gerber Pure Purified Water, Nestle Pure Life Purified Water, and Penta Ultra Purified Water.  So the question is, does your 1 litre water bottles make the grade?

Does your water bottle make the grade?

Here’s how you can find out:  173 Water Bottles results list.

Blogger Laurali Star can also be found on The Damsel in the Attic.

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.

In an interesting twist on recycling, the company Electrolux has come out with five new vacuums created from plastic debris that was littered in the sea.  In an attempt to raise awareness about both littering and recycling, Electrolux has launched a new initiative with the vacuums called Vac from the sea.  It brings a refreshing and innovative touch to a cause I care deeply about, which is beach clean ups!  They actually hand collected pieces through beach clean ups in Hawaii, Sweden, France, Thailand, and Poland, many of which, were still covered with barnacles and annelid worms!

Finally a vacuum that's Earth friendly!

A great use for beach clean ups!

To paint a less than pretty picture about the litter thrown into our oceans, one must first become aware of what this does to the animals that dwell there.  The plastic, often bleached by the sun and rotted by saltwater, is often swallowed by fish then past through the food chain going right back to harming humans.  In essence, by littering, were not only hurting the animals in the ocean but were hurting ourselves.  With Electrolux using technologies to recycle the litter, they feel they are bringing good karma to mankind.

Blogger Laurali Star can also be found on The Damsel in the Attic.

Green Halloween® is a nationwide non-profit initiative started by mother-daughter team Corey Colwell-Lipson and Lynn Colwell. In 2010, Green Halloween became a program of EcoMom® Alliance and has events in cities across the U.S.