City Lights seeks submissions from  artists who work with plastic or interpret the theme “Becoming Plastic”. All interpretations of the theme plastic are welcome for consideration, such as the plastic arts, plastic as a state of being pliable or reshaped, or in reference to the environmental impact that plastic is making on the planet and all living things.

Art has the ability to change attitudes, behaviors, influence policy, inspire creative solutions, inventions, and innovation. Lead guest artists for this exhibit collect and transform plastic trash, making art to raise awareness, prompt good stewardship of the planet and encourage responsible behaviors regarding our use and consumption of plastic. Yes consumption, some studies show that  through the ubiquitous use of plastic, plastic trash, plastic-based 'forever chemicals' and microplastics, humans ingest and breathe in a credit card worth of plastic a week.

Plastic is a polymeric material that has the capability of being molded or shaped, typically through the application of heat and pressure. Plastics are strong, long-lasting, and lightweight, making them resistant to damage from water, heat, chemicals, and electricity.

It has taken approximately a century for the condition of plastic to metastasize, initially regarded as common modern convenience, now it is a threat to the planet.  Here is some inspiration from a segment of vintage film, from a time when the pernicious effects of plastic were not realized, from The Graduate, "One Word: Plastics"

SEND SUBMISSIONS IN JPEG FORMAT, (no more than 6 images), 72 DPI, DUE BY SEPTEMBER 27, 2025 to: clgallerybpt@gmail.com  Notification will be sent by email on October 5, 2025.

Chosen work can be dropped off at City Lights 265 Golden Hill St, Bridgeport CT, during gallery hours, from 12-4 pm on Weds-Sat OCTOBER 8-11, 2025. The artists’ reception opens the exhibit for the Bridgeport Art Trail weekend on Thursday, November 6, 2025, 5:30-8 pm. Exhibit runs November 6 – January 17, 2025.

More about Danile Lanzilotta:

Daniel has collected (harvests) debris, trash, garbage, rubbish, and plastic waste for the past twenty­ five years.

He is an award-winning environmental artist, activist, and lecturer who's stood in the forefront of plastics pollution for nearly 30 years.  A self-proclaimed plastician and non-extractive artist, Lanzilotta creates sculptures and jewelry from ocean and street debris plastic waste, handcrafted into beads and unique pieces that convey a message about the pervasive impact of plastic consumption on our environment.

He completed leadership training as a member of Al Gore's Climate Reality Project. He is also an advisor at The BxArts Factory, a participant in NYC Trash Academy,  and an invited attendee at conferences such as Climate Action Week at Harvard University.