Justin Gignac talks to Webjam Community Manager, Sam Lassman Watts about finding art in amongst New York City's rubbish.

1. You make boxes filled with rubbish. How did it all start, what could possibly posses someone to pick up trash and put it in a box?

Everyone has a different reason for buying one of my garbage cubes. Some purely see the humor in it. Some appreciate the balls of the idea. Others want a memento of the city they love. Some love the commentary on consumerism. In the case of limited editions like the last game at Yankee Stadium or New Year's Eve in Times Square people want a piece of history. As much as New York City's garbage is an eyesore it's also a living part of our landscape and our culture.

Yeah, at first I started on the street until I realized the internet is much less effort. Hawking trash on the street just takes too much time.

Most of my customers are online so I have no idea who they are. My first customer, though, was a man from Ecuador in his 50's who didn't speak any English. Somehow he got the concept and bought a cube. That started it all.

I hadn't seen Manzoni's work when I first started this project but a few people have brought it up since. I can only hope that my numbered crap boxes sell at Sotheby's someday for thousands of dollars like his.

A couple cubes have been part of group shows but I have yet to do a solo show. That's one of my goals for this year. You're right though, I think people would be there for hours. That's the thing I've found most compelling about my cubes, watching people interact with them. When people have had the opportunity to choose from a few they spend so much time examining each cube, comparing and they always end up having a deeply personal connection to at least one. I think people want the cube that is the best reflection of themselves.

For me, the idea is all about the garbage. Getting someone to find beauty in items that are discarded and forgotten. It's all about selling something people would never want. The only other route to go is shit, but Manzoni already covered that.

Art, absolutely. Advertising has been a great way to hone my skills of communication and creativity, but I'd much rather come up with an idea that makes me money rather than a corporation and an ad agency. Also, there's many more moments of gratification in art than any advertising job I've had. I think my work will always have a balance and commentary on art and commerce though.

When I make a cube it's only garbage in a box. The art happens when someone is willing to buy it. To date, I've sold more than 1,200 cubes to people in over 45 states and 25 countries. So I guess it is art. 

See Justin's quality rubbish at  http://www.nycgarbage.com