The Plastic Bag Store

Robin Frohardt is creating art out of what typically ends up in a garbage can.

Using plastic bags, lids and various packaging, the Brooklyn-based artist has been transforming trash into fruit, sushi, cupcakes, cakes and vegetables for her “Plastic Bag Store” installation, which is now on display at CURRENT through Sept. 23.

Beginning Sept. 19, the free installation will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The goal of the art, Frohardt said, is to show how pervasive the use of plastic bags has become in an engaging, interactive way.

Her different and humorous approach of bringing awareness to the impact plastic has on Earth is what brought Frohardt to Carolina as the Andrew W. Mellon DisTIL Fellow at Carolina Performing Arts. As part of the fellowship, Frohardt is working with faculty, students and staff on sustainability and plastic projects. She has collaborated with faculty and students from various departments including archaeology, public health, public policy and Romance Languages. Forhardt has also worked with the Center for the Study of the American South, BeAM and campus environmental groups.