As part of Nashville, Tennesse's 12South streetscape redevelopment project in Spring 1999, youth and seniors at Sevier Park Community Center created colorful patterns for four new litter receptacles. Based on African and Native American beading and weaving designs, the patterns are created by weaving colored telephone wire into the perforated metal surfaces of the new red trash cans that were ordered to be installed in the Phase I area (the blocks closest to Sevier Park) of 12South project. The patterns on the cans highlight the interaction between rules and free-form creativity in art. Each pattern has a set of rules, within which the weavers will be encouraged to follow their own visions of color, pattern, and texture.As lead artist for the project, I designed the project, and lead wire-weaving workshops.

As a thank-you for their work after the cans were finished, a celebration day was held for the kids involved in the project. Artist Lanie Gannon helped participants to make their own art projects using the same colored telephone wire that they had used on the cans, combined with beads, feathers, and silk flowers.

BellSouth provided funds and telephone wire, and Metro Parks and Recreation art teachers lead helped lead can workshops at the Sevier Park Community Center.