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Fastener flowers

Pedestrians in Boston's Chinatown

A group of fifth grade students from the Hub's Josiah Quincy School made flowers by hand for the installation, using recycled plastic soda bottles and materials donated by Atlantic Fasteners.

The 200 colorful flowers, modeled on a traditional Chinese floral pattern, were made using threaded rod and steel hex nuts donated by the Springfield, Mass.-based distributor.

It's part of a public art intervention project, aimed at transforming unused urban spaces through creative, small-scale projects. Conceived by local architect and artist Marrikka Trotter, the Chinatown installation is the first of two projects slated for this summer.

“Small ideas and actions can help strengthen a community,” Trotter says. “The service from Atlantic Fasteners was phenomenal. The order was shipped early, contained exactly what I asked for, and included a package of lollipops, which the kids loved. I wish I always received that kind of treatment from the paid suppliers I work with as an architect.”

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