Joe Tamborello

joe.tamborello@indystar.com

Dan Remington looked out at the park near his Indianapolis home and constantly saw the remnants of yesterday's visitors lining the grass and bushes. Trash. Everywhere.

Instead of looking the other way, he decided to act. Now, his action has become art.

A year into collecting litter around Highland Park, Remington started the Instagram account, Litter Of Highland Park, in March. Now, the images he's created out of garbage left in the east-side park will be featured in the First Friday art exhibit, LITTER2, on Nov. 4 at Keep Indianapolis Beautiful.

"I adopted my block with (Keep Indianapolis Beautiful) so I could get some tools. I started noticing all this ridiculous stuff I was picking up," Remington said.

Equipped with a black bucket, grabbing tool, gloves and a Canon camera, Remington picks up litter and captures images of everything from headless Barbie dolls to personal notes, with Downtown Indianapolis often serving as the background.

"I fill about a bucket a week," Remington said.

The Instagram account started in March 2016. The idea for an art show began with a comment left on one of his posts.

"It was just a comment from this dude, 'I see a gallery night coming very soon for you,' " Remington recalled.

After someone from Keep Indianapolis Beautiful saw that comment, the idea for the LITTER2 show was born.

KIB calls Remington a "litter-azzi," saying he "melds activism and aesthetic to better his community and support KIB’s mission of helping people and nature thrive—all in a square shot."

"I want to put the fun back into something people avoid," says Remington. "(Picking up litter) can be an enjoyable task. And it's good for the community."

Remington hopes the Instagram account and exhibit will get others to act in their neighborhoods.

"Everybody needs a little something to motivate them," Remington said.

If you go:

What: LITTER2 photo exhibit

When: 7-9 p.m, Nov. 4.

Where: Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, 1029 Fletcher Ave.

Remington recently expanded Litter of Highland Park to Facebook, where he shares his art and more.

Follow IndyStar Engagement Producer Joe Tamborello on Instagram and Twitter.