Tom Deininger has found a way to green up waste that is lying everywhere on the streets. He uses cigarette butts in some of his upcycled art projects. The above sculpture entitled “Filter Rabbit” uses the unraveled filters of smoked cigarettes to create a furry appearance to the bunny. It obviously smells strongly of tobacco but looks completely adorable. The filters really do give the rabbit a much needed realistic touch of fur.
This piece, aptly titled “Shell” is comprised of cigarette butts that the artist found in parking lots near the beach in Rhode Island. The butts are unrecognizable from a distance as anything besides alternating colors. Close up, the ugly truth becomes more apparent. It’s amazing how a true artist can see raw materials in a different way than the average person. One person sees garbage and the next sees hope for that garbage’s regeneration.
