During the 2020 protests for racial justice in New York City, plywood prices skyrocketed and supply was depleted as businesses boarded up their storefronts.

In response, worthless studios launched the Plywood Protection Project, an initiative to collect the wood and redistribute it to artists, extending and repurposing the life of this material.

After collecting over 200 boards of plywood, worthless studios initiated an open call for artists, eventually selecting five local makers. Each artist received studio space, tools, fabrication and installation assistance, and a stipend. The plywood sculptures were installed this May, one in each borough of New York City.

This project has been longlisted in the installation design category of Dezeen Awards 2021.

Designer: Worthless Studios
Project: The Plywood Protection Project