MAKING A MUSEUM: Materializing Regimes of Value with the NYC Department of Sanitation

...Furthermore, as Robin pointed out, there's already a carry-can (obviously a different sort of thing than the trash cans that citizens use) available for display. What is the history of this? How was it used?

Anyhow, my idea is this: we get regulation cans from different eras, do a little bit of research on each, make little placards describing each, and then line them in a row in chronological order. A sample placard could read something like:

Model: T46
Capacity: 30 gallons
Weight: 5.5 pounds
Durability: High
Average Purchase Price for Citizen: $15
Used: 1999 - Current
History: The T46 was a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the EZ-Kan. Not only is the T46 lighter and more durable than the EZ-Kan, it's also less abrasive on sanitation workers' hands and has a narrower, more compact shape that makes for easier carrying and dumping.

(Of course, the above is just an example -- all the facts are made up.)

Additionally, then, we could make a one-paragraph placard for the carry-can and perhaps get a basket (public trash can on the street) and write a paragraph or two about the basket and how much more laborious it is to pick up than regular cans on a regular route. There are numerous possibilities here, especially because I imagine getting cans from the DSNY would be a fairly easy thing to do.

All in all, then, our space would be doted with three-dimensional objects (something that we're lacking aside from the row of lockers with mongo atop it). The cans would give the exhibition a nice spacial and visual texture. Additionally, the cans would be enjoyable to interact with because the information attached to them would be brief and because it's always fun to compare different examples of basically the same thing and see its evolvolution over time.

Do people like this idea?

If so, I guess the place to start would be for Haidy and Robin to figure out what cans are available, and then for each of us students who are interested to sign up to research and write a placard or two. Personally, I'd be happy to write a few placards and to coordinate with others to make sure that the tone, format, etc, is consistent from can to can. (Which would be really important, particularly if we end up doing an era by era comparison.)

Lastly, to change the subject completely, Maria and I did some "quick-hitter" interviews on Thursday at the Bronx 2 Garage. While we were there, I video-recorded the 7 AM role call and captured a pretty choice joke: John Manley, the supervisor, finished role call and left the room to get the tele-type for the day. While he was gone the room was slightly tense because Maria and I were standing there ... until someone cracked "If you want to learn about the real DSNY, now's the time to ask, when the boss is gone." The room cracked up and then everyone was faux-disappointed to see John walk back in a couple of seconds later.

Anyhow, I can't seem to upload the video directly to this blog and I'm hesitant to upload it to youtube and link to it because of privacy issues. I guess my main question is: Do we have any use for a video of role call? Frankly, I'm not sure we do, but if we want, we could certainly put it on the computer as something to watch. Regardless, I'll bring my camera to class on Wednesday so people can see the video if they like.