During the pandemic, Takeout 25 was created to help support local restaurants in Oak Park that are struggling to stay in business. The initiative, which started as neighbors helping neighbors, eventually became an organization that until now
Recently, Takeout 25 inspired an art installation at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Oak park artist Cody Norman’s sculpture “Plasticus Porticus” is made entirely of trash from takeout containers and was made by Norman in his studio at 5339 W. Lake Street in Austin.
“I started working with plastics in graduate school,” Norman said. “Only 10% of plastic is recycled, so I’m excited to explore how my work can be recycled and relate to these conversations of environmental awareness and sustainability.”
Oak Park Trustee Ravi Parakkat, founder of Takeout 25 and the organization’s board president, said Norman’s work is representation of Takeout 25’s past and future.
The organization’s projects fall under at least one of three main pillars: helping local businesses, addressing food security and sustainability.
“The connection of supporting businesses with waste from takeout containers has kind of bothered me,” Parakkat said. “It’s a way to address the sustainability pillar.”
“Plasticus Porticus” features a colorful 12-foot arch made by Norman using a combination of high-density polyethylene and polypropylene plastics.
Norman used more than 250 pounds of material for his work, which he describes as “a small effort that could lead to larger changes in how individuals in our community choose to consume single-use plastic.”
In collaboration with Oak Park and River Forest High School’s Clean Up Give Back student group, Takeout 25 and Norman collected trash from homes in the area.
The piece will sit in residence at the Chicago Botanic Garden until September to commemorate the gardens ’50th anniversary. Parakkat said he hopes to find the sculpture a permanent home in Austin, where it was created.
Although the studio where Norman works is not open to the public, he makes it a personal priority to engage with the neighborhood around him.
“I try to talk to people and get in touch with them if they ask me what’s going on around here,” he said. “People ask me what’s going on here and I tell them there’s a group of artists out there doing things. They tell me stories of go kart racing around the building when it was abandoned. I learned a lot about the history of this block from the residents. ”
Parakkat said Takeout 25 wants to engage more with the Austin community and encourages small businesses in Austin to join their network.
“We want to cut the lines that exist in Austin. We are always interested in impact against our goal, ”Parakkat said.“ Our members share everything from resources to professional connections and general advice only. We really want Austin business owners to get involved. “
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