Photography: Repurposing Bras Or Just Had Enough?

In a remote, rocky, little draw off the Columbia River, we decided to explore to maybe find a rock formation to photograph. It was an odd spot, not really near anything, well off the road and one of nature’s divots that would not lend itself too much for mankind’s use. But, I had neglected to consider womankind’s use.

Now as some of you no doubt know, I am big on highlighting Portland’s repurposing movement. You maybe recall the couches, chairs, TV’s, furniture, clothing….the ‘free stuff’ sitting out in the rain and snow? Always near rentals, it seems a convenient way of sharing stuff that one is just too impeded to load up and take with. Perhaps my tone is not coming through clearly. Let me add a clarifying phrase I often utter when driving by such drops “What a bunch of bullshit. Lazy bastards”. 

Well who would have thought a bra, a daintily placed bra, fastened (maybe someone zipped that baby right up over those extended arms?) piece of apparel would be displayed so gracefully atop a rock where few women tread.

Now this is one of those posts where the properly selected tags could draw more visitors. Taking all the derivatives for breasts would certainly boost the draw to SwittersB, but I just can’t let myself do that. But I digress.

So, was this a repurposing of lingerie? A forgotten piece of a scavenger hunt? Someone stumbling away in the dark, impaired and forgetting their bra or someone just saying ‘enough of that damn thing…I’m free and it feels good?’ Well it is still setting there, in the approaching Winter’s weather, free for the taking. Ah, the discoveries of photography and hiking.

Portland’s Repurposing and a Wet Butt

Oh you just know I love Portland’s repurposing efforts!!! Such benevolence! Yes, I have touched upon this before, but as I drive to work each day, I am struck by the worthy practice of dumping your stuff at the curb to best benefit your fellow man/woman. Such is the continued feel good, misdirected, self indulgent practice of putting furniture, bedding, clothing, you name it on the curbside because….well, it hasn’t a damn thing to do with taking care of your ‘community’!!!

Look, look…even record breaking wet shoes too!!!

Something so appropriately ‘green’ about this repurposing!

Photographic Study In Repurposing & Humor

Repurposed Matt & Box: Wet Generosity

Perhaps you recall, in late January, I highlighted the repurposing of furniture in my fine city (Portlandia). A few weeks back, I captured a perfect example with a mattress leaning up against a street sign near my work. It stayed out in the pouring rain for several days until one morning I saw it slumped down in a pile and later that day gone. Where did it go? Taken for actual use or deemed visual abuse and gathered up dumped? I snapped a pic, but seem to have lost it. 

Imagine my surprise, when a couple days ago I came upon a generous offering not two blocks from my work. Seriously, people in this neighborhood really like to repurpose all manner of property.

Like magic, these repurposed gems just appear at first light. I don’t think I have ever seen any repurposer (my word…you can use it) actually repurposing (yes, you can use it) in broad daylight. It must be a night time thing. So, after a torrential downpour, typical of early Spring in Portland, the matt & box was still there the next day. So, one wonders how does one take such a generosity and sleep upon it?

“The moist and damp effect triggers the development of mold and mildew. These dreaded end products give off foul odors and often intensify respiratory problems. Neglecting the wetness of your mattresses can pose as a looming threat to your every day sleep. Your bed will soon transform into a breeding ground for thousands of hazardous bacteria.”

No this is not a job for a hair dryer or fan set on high speed. There is no 90 degree days looming anytime soon in this neck of damp woods. Hmmm, I wonder if there could be a better way to deposit such items so they actual could benefit a person need?

Perhaps the generous repurposer, no doubt full of typical great intentions, ala Portlandia, could figure out how to donate such items or transport them at least to a tent city (there are several in Portland) or at least deposit them under some shelter like a freeway overpass (there is a large collection of folks down underneath the I-84/I-5 interchange (note all the tarps, shopping carts and pallets that could at least temporarily use these items until rousted out. Then the city would be disposed to recycle your offering to the appropriate landfill. I mean if you are going to dump them (oops, repurpose them) anyway, make them count!

Repurposers: Please note the Red X …work your way down underneath into that vicinity beneath the overpasses and donate reasonable items to the several dozen folks that have camped out down in there. Of course, be careful. They may or may not appreciate your good intentions.