gardens of the future
united in the belief that art is a powerful pathway to connection and social change, the gardens of the future collective transforms trash into beautiful possibility, both literally and figuratively.
building bridges between art, storytelling/listening, audacious dreaming, and community organizing, we start where we are and use what we have. this allows us to practice dreaming a more expansive world together. then, we back up those dreamy visions with tangible, organized action. another world is possible - let’s dream it and build it together!
share your dream for a better future »»» complete form
art made from trash?
from pollution to possibility
plastic does not disappear; it merely surrenders its shape. it fractures into microshards that permeate the clouds, the deepest ocean trenches, and the very marrow of our bones. we are, quite literally, becoming as synthetic as the world we have built.
gardens of the future began as an art series born from the friction between devastation and transformation. the sculpted paintings are crafted entirely from Philadelphia trash and reclaimed materials—a practice that acts as a manifesto: we must start where we are, using what we have to go where we are trying to grow.
the works serve as a chilling consumerist "what if?" in these speculative, apocalyptic landscapes, the pollinators vanish and the soil turns to dust, yet these "forever blossoms" persist. from a distance, they are vibrant and whimsical; up close, a stark confession of our complicity.
while a cautionary tale regarding the biodiversity crisis and our current trajectory, this work is also a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to find light in the darkest of places. by transmuting trash into art, it explores the bridge between our suffocating reality and our ability to break down systems of waste to build something more expansive.
we are witnessing mass extinction fueled by our own convenience. these works act as a mirror, challenging the viewer to look at the garbage of our time and dare to dream something different.
we are the seed for future generations.
dreaming a new future together
gardens of the future is surely about sustainability and access. by using trash to make art, we prevent it from reaching landfills and waterways and make artistic practice truly accessible (it’s nearly free!)
however, this series invites us into deeper reflection
how can we truly look at and honor the devastation around us?
how can we tune into our most creative, visionary selves to dream up new possibility?
how can we start exactly where we are and use only what we have to courageously step forward in co-creating the world in which we most want to live?
a vision for community imagination + creation
we are moving this series out of the studio and into our community to inspire collective dreaming and action. another world is possible, and we believe in US!
COMMUNITY EXHIBITION Studio 34 (aug-sept 2027)
GARDENS OF THE FUTURE: LET’S DREAM A NEW WORLD TOGETHER
goals of project before exhibition:
launch SEEDING CHANGE DREAMSCAPE. a mobile community altar where philly folks will weave their dreams for a regenerative future
host trash art, environmental ed, and collective dreaming workshops to inspire deeper connection and change
collect 1,000 dreams for the future
synthesize community dreams into themes to be mirrored back at the exhibition
immersive exhibition will feature: gardens of the future original art, the SEEDING CHANGE DREAMSCAPE, community-made art, education stations, water healing ceremony, and more!
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THE PROJECT?
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR UPCOMING NEWSLETTER (ABOVE) TO STAY UP-TO-DATE ON PROJECT HAPPENINGS
SHARE YOUR DREAM FOR A BETTER FUTURE
ATTEND AN EVENT
DONATE TO OUR PROJECT TO ALLOW FREE WORKSHOP ACCESS
meet the dream weavers
hannah mack
hannah mack (they/them) is a non-binary + queer Philly-based artist, facilitator, and program developer who specializes in ushering big, bold ideas into the world in tangible ways.
hannah’s inner child reminds them to stay unapologetically hopeful, believing another world is possible.
they are passionate about co-creating a new world where everyone’s needs and dreams are honored and used as the catalyst for change.
lead artist
jendaiya hill
Jendaiya Hill (she/they) is a Philly-based artist, storyteller, facilitator, and community organizer who specializes in environmental justice.
She is passionate about inspiring creative action as well as building relationships and infrastructure that strengthen community care and climate resilience across neighborhoods and ecosystems.
lead organizer
plastic pollution in the delaware river
Is My Recycling Being… Recycled? (by Courtney Duchene) Turns out, probably not. Philadelphia’s recycling rate is 13%
gardens of the future supports community orgs
“we are the seed-mini” made in 2026 for Abolition School’s fundraiser at Vox Populi (march 2026)
“mini garbage bloom” made in 2025 for Lilypad’s fundraiser
“we are the seed-mini” made in 2025 for Artemis Pack’s fundraiser.