Her Wall of Mall also demonstrates the ridiculous amount of packaging -- as in bags -- that is consumed.

So much of the cost of waste to governments and taxpayers is due to disposable plastic bags. And it's not getting cheaper.

Ireland introduced a tax on most disposable plastic bags in 2002 and it has reduced their use appreciably (90% in just six months). Shoppers now opt for tougher, reusable bags.

Sent by Ed | 3:18 PM ET | 03-22-2007

I loved how the idea of getting these bags turned into the process of purchasing and returning items. You'd think from a customer service and cost-saving angle (service time, transaction, return service time, restocking), in the long run it would have been better for the stores to just give her the bag!

Sent by Michele | 3:55 PM ET | 03-22-2007

A woman obsessing over shopping bags from the world's largest shopping mall, the perfect ending to a discussion on the "dumbing down" of America.

Sent by Neil | 4:00 PM ET | 03-22-2007

This piece (with the concept of the titanic mall as cultural mecca, indeed even a pilgrimage site where people go for cultural affirmation) reminds me entirely too much of a fictional radio play by ZBS Media in the delightful "Ruby: Galactic Gumshoe" series. Link: http://www.zbs.org/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=2_23&products_id=243

Magnifico, the City of Malls, is literally a character in this story of good vs evil, corporate machinations and the effect of marketing on the psyche. All the Ruby stories stand alone with a small learning curve but the entire series are great.

But yeah, this is the case of life imitating art.

Sent by Neal | 4:08 PM ET | 03-22-2007

Dear Rosemary. I enjoy the fact that you point at the overwhelming presense of conspicuous consumption. It is a big part of status-seeking middle class life. From looking at your installation, however I can't tell if you're trying to criticise this phenomenon or simply condense in a small piece what can be experienced in any mall on full scale probably by more people that will get to see your installation. If your piece had a clearer subjective message it would be easier to start a conversation. What does consumption culture mean to YOU?

Sent by Orest | 2:14 AM ET | 03-23-2007

Now she's ready for the world's largest mall, West Edmonton Mall, with over 800 stores and over 5 million square feet.
http://www.westedmall.com/about/wemtrivia.asp

Sent by Dave | 3:24 PM ET | 03-23-2007