For over 30 years, Nelson Molina worked for the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) as a sanitation worker. His regular pick up routes were in Manhattan 11, a district bordered by 96th Street to 106th Street between First and Fifth Avenues. While he worked, he found many objects; some that needed repair and others that were fully intact. As hundreds and hundreds of objects amassed, Molina created the Treasures in the Trash Collection inside DSNY’s garage. Much has been written about the eclectic treasurers collected by Molina. There have been too many articles on the Molina treasurers to mention, and there was even a #TreasuresInTheTrash Tour in 2018!
Now, Hunter East Harlem Gallery will open its doors to an exhibition exploring the man and his treasurers.