The Adlington Post

This robot has an old metal toaster for a body, which I found in a skip. His antennae is a toy helicopter. Attached to the back of his head is a toy telephone which works! - When you press the buttons it either beeps or a metallic voice says “Hello....Leave a message at the sound of the beep...Goodbye”. SOLD See more of my recycled, upcycled and environmental works at www.martinadlington.webs.com ____________________________________________

These plastic fish are soy sauce bottles which I found locally in the trash. I have filled them with electric-green beads. See more of my trashion pieces as well as recycled, upcycled and environmental works at www.martinadlington.webs.com

Last summer I spent a few days at Lake Taupo (an enormous volcanic crater-lake in the center of the North Island). Early one morning I went down to the lake’s shore to look for pumice for jewellery & sculptures. In the car park I found several bottle caps discarded by drinkers the night before, I gathered them up & threw them onto a rock by the lake’s edge & took this photo. To me the pic says a lot about the thoughtless disposal of rubbish.

This lei (Polynesian necklace) is over 5ft (nearly 2M) long & is made from flowers cut from egg cartons threaded on thick fishing line which I found on Castlecliff beach in Wanganui. The restaurants here in Browns Bay throw heaps of coloured egg trays out every week & I gather them up on my daily round of local trash sites and dumpsters. See more of my recycled, upcycled and environmental works at www.martinadlington.webs.com

A recycled car-tyre swan .......or is it a flamingo? This beautiful bird is made from a car tyre. They used to be quite common in front gardens here in NZ when I was a kid - long ago last century. You hardly see them anymore & I was pleased to find this one up north. I am trying to figure out how to make them - evidently there is a trick in turning the tyre inside-out. Sourcing tyres without steel webbing is also an issue. If anyone has any tips either way I would be grateful for some assistance.

This is my first truck made from tin cans from the trash - I was especially pleased that a piece of cut-off metal from my own trash can was ideally suited to be smoke from the exhaust stack! The driver is the Zig Zag Man (here in NZ he is on the cover of packets of cigarette papers for rolling tobacco) & his companion is MM herself. The back door opens to reveal a cargo of party-poppers - small bottles which shoot streamers into the air with a “bang” when you pull the string. These square tins are harder to find than the round ones - so I am keeping my eyes open. I got the idea for this piece from a fantastic book “The Fine Art of the Tin Can” by Bobby Hansson. Thanks mate for all the inspiration! SOLD See more of my recycled, upcycled and environmental works at www.martinadlington.webs.com

This robot made from tins from my trash can was another entry in the Mairangi Arts Centre exhibition. He has sardine cans for feet, & his legs are filled with scrap metal & sand to keep him stable. I think the “cigar” in his mouth makes him look a little like Clint Eastwood!? SOLD See more of my  recycled, upcycled and environmental works at www.martinadlington.webs.com