Earth Day came and went and many of us did nothing to celebrate. I think I cut off a few extra lights, but nothing out of the ordinary. Gabriel Dishaw on the other hand took things up a notch with an Art installation at the 360SEE Gallery Chicago. Gabriel installation, called “(Not So) New Shoes“, advanced the theme of Earth Day through recycling and reusing.
Dishaw’s work consist of (7) new pairs of artistically licensed 1:1 scale reproductions of collectible Nike sneakers made out of recycled computer parts, electronics, found metals, and other upcycled materials. Each pair is matched to a vintage piece of luggage that Dishaw retrofits into a custom labeled shoebox used to secure the shoes for travel and display.
According to Dishaw:
My passion for working with metal and mechanical objects has been crucial in the evolution of my art. It provides an avenue for me to express myself in a way that both satisfies my love for creating art while re-using items that would otherwise end up in a land-fill.
I create sculptural objects that not only promote visual and tactile interest but provokes others to really appreciate how much we dispose of each day and the impact that our behavior has on our environment. I want to inspire others to think beyond the conventional route when it comes to recycling.
In addition to Dishaw’s sculptural sneakers, he also designed (3) custom wearable designs of the classic Nike shoe the Air Force One. The “Air Force One (Wired)” in Green, Orange, and Copper are available in a made-to-order limited edition of (5) pairs per design.
All of the proceeds from Dishaw’s customized Air Force One shoes will be donated to the Earth Day Network. These limited edition sneakers will be available, while supplies last, 4.16.10 – 04.22.10 at St. Alfred sneaker boutique and 4.23.10 – 5.31.10 at 360SEE.
NOTE: From now until the end of May 360SEE will serve as a depository for old laptops, personal computers, typewriters, and other electronic components for Gabriel Dishaw to use in future sculptures. All materials deposited that are not usable by Dishaw will be properly recycled to keep as many harmful and toxic materials out of our landfills.
