Cat Chiu Phillips: Plastic Garden

December 2015-January 2016

Cat Philips’ Plastic Garden Float was a collaborative art project in which over 1000 students from the Pasadena Unified School district collaborated on a 100% recycled materials Rose Parade float. Plastic Garden Float encouraged community conversations around the discarded plastic waste as participants wove plastic yarn (PLARN) for the float out of recycled bottles which were put on display at the official Post-Rose Parade Showcase.

Public Events

December 21-23, 2015: Float Decorating at Side Street Projects

December 27, 2015: Opening

December 27-31, 2015: Public Viewing at Paseo Colorado

January 1-3, 2016: Post-Rose Parade: A Showcase of Floats

Participating organizations:

Pasadena Unified School District & PUSD Arts

BIO

Cat Chiu Phillips creates installation work in public spaces often using contemporary handicraft methods. By using various found materials, discarded items became an interest because of their contextual value. Inevitably this has inspired her to create installation and public art projects using various recycled products such as plastic and e-waste.

Her public art commissions include the San Diego International Airport, Nashville International Airport for Bonnaroo, Riverside Art Museum, Westfield Horton Plaza and UTC in San Diego, City of Pasadena, City of Vista, City of Solana Beach, Las Vegas Arts and Culture Commission, Amelia Island (FL) Travel Commission, and Atlanta Beltline Project. Phillips has received awards from the California Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. She received her MFA from San Francisco Art Institute and has been a public school educator for over 17 years.