This project spans decades of development and innovation.
My projects often started with using what is available. Not so much found but peripheral to a lifestyle. We ate from cans; I made sculptures from food and beverage containers. This metal man series now spans 25 years of renditions within a motif I honed and called cankind. I make Can Man and Can Ma’am; I have created many styles and designs. I started with steel cans while I was still on the nuclear disarmament peace road.
I documented the first generation of canman / canma’am with a coloring book. These images were stylized using only multi-generational photocopy machines and the original photos of the sculptures. These early sculptural attempts are documented in a Tin Can Man; A Colorin‘ Book; more of these images can be found online at
http://cankind.com/coloringbook_by_jack_trimper.html
These sculptures I continue to assemble. I’ve made near 800 or more.
I transitioned from steel to aluminum containers-- from tomato and olives to soda and brews. I transitioned from the “art” of metal men to the “craft” of the same for the purpose of fostering a good use of what you have.
I designed a series of webpages: www.cankind.com to share the motif and its story.