Running the Numbers

Chris Jordan, a Seattle based photographic artist visualizes statistics such as the number of plastic drink bottles used in the US every five minutes (see above). In his series 'Running the Numbers, An American Self-Portrait', he mainly focuses on waste but also covers topics from gun control (a pile of 29,569 handguns representing the number of gun-related deaths in the US in 2004) to the Iraq War (125,000 one-hundred dollar bills, the amount the US spends in an hour on the Iraq War).

Personally, I think the more quiet piles of things more successful than the objects forming other things. But great work regardless. The series is on exhibit at the Von Lintel Gallery in New York until July 31st.

-Matt