Department(s):
Ever wish there was a way to get stuff for free? Welcome to the hobby, the sport, the art that is dumpster diving. We talked with Ryan Ourada, one of Boston's own divers to get the dirt on the how, why and what for.
Age?
25
How long have you been dumpster diving?
The first time I did it was back in Colorado. So probably like 2002-2001 maybe? I started by taking carbon copy shipping receipts from the down town Greyhound Station in Colorado Springs. I’m not sure if this is illegal (Laughs) but I started visiting their trash every night for an art project. I realized then that I could get a lot of art supplies much cheaper that way.
What do you look for when you go out dumpster diving?
I don’t know anymore. If its sticking up high or on the side its usually interesting. I don’t go into it looking for anything in particular, because if you go into it looking for something, you’ll be disappointed. Like I was looking for windows one time for an art project. I couldn’t find them anywhere. Weeks later, of course, I found a ton. You just got to stay open. That’s how I got these skis (points to four skis). They are my latest find. Yeah, when I first started, I realized that people throw away weird shit. After I did it for a while, though, I began to notice that they tend to throw away the same kinds of weird shit. Now I see windows every day. When I first came to Boston I didn’t have a car. I spent a lot of time walking around. I got to see the good stuff up close.
What’s the weirdest thing you ever found?
I found a picture on the ground that was, like, a medical photo of someone’s brain with an arrow on it pointing to something. It freaked me out because I figured it was pointing to something bad. It made me wonder whose brain it was and why would they lose this photo? It seemed like something you’d try to hold on to, you know?
What’s the most “valuable” thing you ever found?
A bag of marijuana. Those series of paintings are my current favorites. They give me the most joy.” (Note: Ryan recently unearthed 8 or 9 painted portraits someone was throwing away)
Do you have any advice to those of us just starting out?
Walk. Figure out when trash day is and go at night. If it’s a sketchy neighborhood go with someone else, but I really don’t find that many neighborhoods to be sketchy. Don’t be deterred by passers by looks. And DON’T get caught up in the idea that a rich neighborhood means better trash.
Have you ever been given a hard time for picking through the trash?
No. One woman was actually out in her yard. I wanted a bird cage, this elaborate bird cage, you know? That was out with her trash. I asked her "Is it okay if I take this?" She was excited. Very excited at the idea that it was going to someone else. I mean, obviously she had held on to it for a long time and it wasn’t something…she had kept it out of the trash for so long. She was just so happy that someone else was going to get it. I think most people fit into that category.
Don’t go into somebody’s yard for something. They tend to not like that. If someone does confront you, even if you don’t go to art school, I would try to use that as an excuse. It’s worked really well for me. Say "I’m a student at" insert local art school’s name here "and I need this stuff for" make up some kind of project. I find that if you can give them a reason, something you’re using it for, then that tends to smooth things over. If you’re always looking, I feel like you’re bound to see something. Also, getting it in real light is a good way to see if what you found is worth a damn. PR
