Jackson Free Press

Over the past four months, Travis Pinkston has learned that trash can be a creative endeavor that brings a community together.

The 27-year-old teamed up with Jackson artist daniel johnson and formed the Midtown Debris Organization, a temporary organization to collect and sort trash and turn it into works of art in the Millsaps Arts District. In order to establish a presence in the Midtown community and store the debris, the artists rented out the former Cultural Expression's building for $75 a month and created their art during the hottest days of summer without air conditioning or electricity.

With the help of volunteers, the artists sorted the trash according to aesthetic and symbolic significance and assembled their pieces.

On Saturday, the Midtown Debris Organization will host a Final Organization Block Party to exhibit and sell their work. The event will also feature a creation station for anyone who wants to assemble his or her own sculptures.

"People can still come and be a part of this even on the day of the exhibit," he said.

Pinkston, who lives in the Millsaps Art District, said he and johnson got the idea for the project a few years ago when they discovered they were both assembling sculptures from found objects. The two Millsaps College students began to discuss ways to collaborate and bring the community into the project.

Pinkston said they ran the Midtown Debris Organization like a business--only without financial transactions. They set up volunteer hours, cut the property's grass and painted the building.

"The project transformed from a building just to hold the debris, to a headquarters and being a cornerstone in the project itself," he said.

The Montgomery, Ala., native moved to Jackson 2003 to attend Millsaps College, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Spanish in 2009. When he isn't painting or assembling sculptures, he works as a cook at Congress Street Bar and Grill and a sushi chef at Pan Asia. He is a band member of the Bailey Brothers, Druid Hill and Anna Kline and the Grits & Soul band.

The Midtown Debris Organization Final Block Party is Saturday, Oct. 8 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 147 Millsaps Ave. The event is free and will include live music and food.