To most cans consumers they are disposable, discardable. There are plenty of people here in New York City who get by collecting cans and cashing them in for 5 or 10 cents. The are not subtle, they have mastered the art of pushing multiple shopping carts that are overflowing with garbage bans fully of salvaged cans, that is an art form in itself- but not a profitable one.
Bernard could have done that. On first impressions Bernard is more likely to be cashing in cans than enjoying their sweet internal goodness- his tattered cardboard home made sign and grubby appearance gave it away.
But instead of exchanging his cans for 5 cents a piece Bernard skillfully moulds them into interesting sculptures. He crafts them while spooking himself and his cans and it's hard to not see the mastery in his delicate moulding. Bernard does more than recycle, more than open a perspective for function, value, appreciation to the people that pass by him. Bernard invited himself a vocation and what I imagine is a profitable income.
I stood and watched the crowd for a few minutes and everyone I saw purchasing the cans or tipping for the videos/ photos they took was not acting out of pity, they were buying the cans because they couldn't walk away without one! They respected his work, his manner and prices. Thats how I got this one- just $3 for a real life piece of modern day subway life and innovation.
It reminds me of this awesome project:
