In April 2000, Nampa resident Thomas Jarrat called DEQ concerned about trash in Indian Creek and other local waterways.

This call inspired DEQ staff to contact Centerpoint High School teacher Joe Palaia and Southern Idaho Technical Institute instructor Mark Bauer about creating a collaborative trash sculpture project that would serve as a visual reminder to not use our waterways as garbage cans.

In November, Palaia, Bauer, Centerpoint

High School students and DEQ staff collected trash along a one-mile stretch of waterway in Canyon County. The group threw away several large bags of trash, but kept much of it—including a vacuum cleaner—for its art project.

At first glance, what had seemed interesting along the riverbank now looked like slimy, rusty

garbage. But Boise artist Evan Worthington

showed the group some of his sculptures and shared some pointers on how to get started. The students took it from there and created "The American Dream," pictured at right.

DEQ would like to thank the artists, Centerpoint High School, SITECH, Evan Worthington, Norm Keesler, Frontier Equipment Company, the City of Nampa and

the Jarratsfor their contributionsto this

project.

The student artists include Caleb Thomas, Cliff Hedrick, Geoff Pruett, Curtis Beyanidez and Jerrad Bright, all of whom are enrolled in the Southwest Idaho Technical Institute's welding program in Homedale.