Gordon Matta-Clark’s work Garbage Wall (1970) embodies the focus that he placed on art, architecture, and social activism. Almost forty years later, it inspired the creation and installation of a locally constructed Garbage Wall in St. Louis. The materials were collected through the individual donations of various community groups, including local schools, universities, and neighborhood clean-ups. In order to design and build their own structures, high school students studying at the Construction Careers Center assumed different roles including artist, community activist, environmental researcher, and architect. Like Matta-Clark’s work, this transformative project engaged communities and encouraged action. Collaborative partners for this project included Construction Careers Center, Lawrence Group Architects, and EarthWays Center, who offered workshops inspired by Matta-Clark’s Garbage Wall.
