John Tagiuri: Wrench Bench 

John Tagiuri
Wrench Bench  2008
Cast fiber, resin, oil paint, edition of 4

John Tagiuri has been creating public art, primarily in and around the city of Boston, for over 25 years. He specializes in community-focused permanent and temporary public sculptures and installations that rejuvenate inner-city parks and schoolyards and explore social issues. His projects are thought-provoking and fun for people of all ages and backgrounds. Tagiuri has worked extensively with inner-city youth through UrbanArt’s Boston Schoolyard Initiative, the Cambridge Arts Council, the Somerville Arts Council, the Browne Fund, and the New England Foundation for the Arts.

Tagiuri has also used his artwork to speak out for the environment. He has supported recycling by building a full-sized ranch house, the Trash Temple, out of the trash that an average family of four produces in a year. The Trash Temple was erected on Boston City Hall plaza and was seen by 500,000 visitors. More recently Tagiuri designed, printed, and distributed over 1,000,000 anti-SUV (sport utility vehicle) violation tickets, in 800 American cities. Through this grassroots, web-based campaign, he sparked a dialogue about the safety and environmental dangers of SUVs.  The project received national coverage in the New York Times, USA Today, Sierra Magazine, 60 Minutes, Time Magazine, Doonesbury, NPR, and Fox News, among others.

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Video: Wrench Bench at BMAC