Photos: Katharine Harvey’s Glittering Plastic “Chandelier” is Made from 1,000s of Pieces of Garbage

Made from glittering strands of plastic garbage, artist <a href="http://www.katharineharvey.com/">Katharine Harvey</a>'s massive "Chandelier" has made its way to downtown New York just in time for <a href="http://inhabitat.com/nyc/ten-ecotastic-earth-day-activities-in-new-york-city/">Earth Day</a>. The artist strung together water bottles, sandwich trays, muffin tins, salad boxes, egg cartons, and other trash to create the almost crystalline 21-foot tall and 15-foot wide sculpture, which currently hangs in the World Financial Center Winter Garden. Commenting on the "glut of plastic in consumer society," the deceptively beautiful light fixture will be on display from April 15th through May 11th, suspended above a luxurious marble staircase.

Made possible by <a href="http://www.artsbrookfield.com/">Arts Brookfield</a>, the installation features thousands of used plastic containers.

A closer view of the pieces of trash that make up the chandelier.

The trash is arranged on circular rings.

The plastic parts were washed thoroughly and then strung together by Toronto-based artist Katherine Harvey.

From a distance, "<a href="http://www.artsworldfinancialcenter.com/cgi-bin/Go.cgi?q_id=1203">Chandelier</a>" catches and glints in the sun just like a glass or crystal chandelier might.

But upon further inspection, one sees that it is comprised of nothing more than the waste generated by our consumption of goods and food.

Hopefully that will give the thousands of businesswomen and men passing through the atrium daily something to think about.

"While Chandelier is at first glance a gorgeous complement to the sun-drenched Winter Garden, closer examination also offers timely food for thought around Earth Day," said Debra Simon, V.P. and Artistic Director of <a href="http://www.artsbrookfield.com/">Arts Brookfield</a>.

"We're thrilled that New York audiences will enjoy a groundbreaking work by one of Canada's leading visual artists.”

A closer view of the pieces that make up the chandelier.

If you're in the World Financial Center area, we highly recommend you check out Chandelier.