2026 SPE Annual Conference: Catalyst for Exchange
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print this pageTransparency in a world of plastic waste
Sarah Thomas
Saturday, October 11 - 2:40PM to 2:55PM
Wayne State University
This lecture explores my lens-based practice examining plastic culture through photography and sculpture. I investigate the lifecycle of plastics—especially single-use, found, and thrifted items—as both material and metaphor. Ephemeral in use yet enduring in consequence, these objects raise questions about consumerism, visibility, and ecological memory.
Focusing on plastic's artificial aesthetics—its neon hues, transparent textures, and weathered forms—I reveal the paradox between its playful allure and persistent harm. Images and objects highlight this tension, inviting viewers to reconsider what we discard.
By tracing discarded plastics' afterlives, I examine what "away" truly means—where waste goes, who bears its burden, and how its invisibility is sustained. Through staged compositions and urban documentation, I seek to make plastic waste visible again, disrupting its invisibility and prompting a renewed awareness of its presence in everyday life.
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Sarah Thomas
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