What Branches Grow?

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Tom Crookston

Trailer for Lucy Walker’s Oscar-nominated documentary, Waste Land:

There’s a nice piece on GlobalPost that includes interviews with a couple of the ‘catadores’ (garbage pickers). Incredible stuff:

“I came here because of the money,” said Josue Santos, 42, who says he quit construction three years ago to do this. As he dragged a sofa-sized, 100-pound bag of smashed soda bottles under a hot sun, Santos explained the economics of chasing garbage trucks.

The prices of recyclables change weekly but, generally, a 100-pound bag of crushed plastic bottles sells for about $30, Santos said. On a good day a fast picker can gather as many as four or five bags worth of bottles, he said, but a worse day or a slower picker may produce just one. Santos said he works alongside his wife and young son and together they make between $400 and $600 per week.

Nina

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Tom Crookston

I don’t know about you guys but I sure am glad that International Women’s Day is over so that we can get back to enjoying International Men’s 364-Days.

Anyway it seemed like a good moment to point up Flavorwire‘s rundown of their top ten female graffiti writers, which kicked off with São Paulo’s Nina. She’s a badass, and actually probably definitely of the top ten street artists out there full stop. Check it.

DJ Marky: Fabriclive

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Tom Crookston

I don’t listen to much d’n'b these days but I’ll always make an exception for DJ Marky. He’s just put together the 55th (55th!) in the incredible fabriclive mix CD series, and it doesn’t disappoint.