Is the Plastic Bag History?

This digital and outdoor exhibition explores the history of a familiar object from a surprising number of angles.

On view October 30, 2023–April 26, 2024
Building Façade

It’s strong, cheap, flimsy, recyclable, disposable, engineered, manufactured, and (in some places) banned. But is the plastic bag history?

This digital and outdoor exhibition uses a common grocery bag to explore the histories and legacies of plastic in society. It’s a story that includes a Swedish manufacturer, dry cleaners, and Philadelphia’s own local government.

For more on the history of plastics and other materials, visit the Science of Stuff.

Curator: Roger Turner
Photography: Annabel Pinkney
Design: Nathanael Roesch

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