“Living Art” Grant Engages Local Youth 

As part of a citywide initiative to help beautify the city parks, Oil Drum Art and the Connecticut Community Foundation presented twenty painted trash drums to Mayor Neil M. O’Leary.  The trash drums are painted by local youths in after-school programs with artistic and historical themes based on “Waterbury Firsts.”

The Connecticut Community Foundation awarded Oil Drum Art a “Living Art” grant to create art from repurposed 55-gallon oil drums.  The objective of the program was to engage Waterbury students in making and experiencing art that reflects and is relevant to their lives.

Jack Lardis, President of Oil Drum Art, invited Waterbury students to create Trash Drum Art with a theme about historical events, places, and people for which Waterbury is famous.

Participating in the after-school program were Driggs Elementary School, Carrington Elementary School, Waterbury Arts Magnet School, P.A.L, Shakesperience Productions, Girls Inc of Greater Waterbury, Carolyn’s Place, Youth Services and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Waterbury.

The Waterbury Parks Department will place the donated trash drums in city parks and civic buildings where the drums are maintained manually so that the artworks are not damaged by standard trash collecting trucks.