Darien exhibit breathes new life into plastic bags

A view of the front entrance to the Darien Nature Center in Cherry Lawn Park. Photo: File Photo

A quilt made from recycled plastic shopping bags hangs in the front entrance of the Darien Nature Center in a new exhibit there. Photo: File Photo

The very unique mailbox at the Darien Nature Center in Cherry Lawn Park. Photo: File Photo

Nina Miller, a program director at the Darien Nature Center, holds a handbag made from recycled billboard signs along Interstate 95. A company called Revinylized has turned more than 10,000 pounds of rescued vinyl into totes and handbags. Photo: File Photo

A sofa and ottoman made from more than three years' worth of blue New York Times delivery bags is on display at the Darien Nature center. Made in Boston, the furniture is part of a display of artwork made from recycled plastic bags until April 25. Photo: File Photo

Beautiful woven handbags made from recycled phone books and multi-colored plastic shopping bags found in landfills in Kenya are part of a new exhibit at the Darien Nature Center. Photo: File Photo

The centerpiece exhibit at the Darien Nature Center features a trash can with a fan in it that keeps a large plastic bag twirlling above it. It's part of a new exhibit featuring artwork made from recycled plastic bags. Photo: File Photo

A disturbing photo of a dead bird opened up to reveal bits of plastic that it had consumed before its death hangs on the wall of the Darien Nature Center as part of an exhibit there. It's estimated that there is more than 40 times the amount of plastic bits in the ocean as there is plankton, microscopic organisms that serve as food for many oceanic creatures. Photo: File Photo

A mandala made from recycled plastic shopping bags hangs over the main exhibit hall of the Darien Nature Center. Mandalas are a Hindu or Buddhist piece of art that tell a story by way of a meditative disk. Photo: File Photo