Re-Engineered Art Piece from Scrap
Curbell Plastics, Inc., one of the nation’s top suppliers of plastic sheet, rod, tube, tapes, and fabricated parts, is excited to be part of “Acrylic Pixel,” an engineered modular system of panels made from reformed and reimagined scrap acrylic.

“Acrylic Pixel” was constructed from heat slumped scrap acrylic, donated by Curbell Plastics. It is constructed of 24 clear acrylic tiles that are 1/8” thick and 15” by 15”.

The creators include Edward Segal, Ph.D., P.E., Associate Professor of Engineering at Hofstra University; Albert Chao, Adjunct Instructor of Architecture at the University of Buffalo; Lisa Ramsburg, former Masters of Architecture Student at Princeton University; and Powell Draper, Principal at Entuitive.

Segal said that once the COVID pandemic struck, extra polycarbonate and acrylic was everywhere. “There’s been a drastic increase in plastics use since the pandemic started,” he said. “We want to see how we can reuse the materials…. [and] be ‘less practical’, distorting them into different shapes and art forms.”

From July 6 to 8, 2022, Segal and the group exhibited prototypes as part of “Critical Practices”, at the 5th International Conference on Structures and Architecture (ICSA) in Aalborg, Denmark. On July 6, Segal presented a conference paper on the project, “Reuse and Misuse with Heat Formed Acrylic.”

“Acrylic Pixel,” which made its premier in Denmark, is currently in storage awaiting its permanent home, Segal said.

For more information, contact Beth Summers, Curbell Plastics, Inc., 7 Cobham Dr., Orchard Park, NY 14127, 888-287-2355/716-667-3377, Fax: 716-667-3432, E-mail: bsummers@curbellplastics.com, Web: www.curbellplastics.com.