Poetry on the Plaza by Nathan Justice Moyer (b. 1980, he/him) transforms discarded materials into art, emphasizing sustainability and reinvention. Through the Plastic Poetry program—developed with O, Miami and Free Plastic—the project engages the North Miami community in a poetry workshop and cleanup initiative. When united as a singular expression, the texts by Angela Delgado, Jennifer Kramer, and previous MOCA Teen Art Force student Rebeca Lugo Carrillo show how poetry can foster a communal discourse on space, people, and individuals.

For this installation, participants collected plastic waste from their surroundings and repurposed the materials into trilingual poems displayed on MOCA’s façade. The poetry, written by NoMi residents, reflects the area’s rich multilingual and multicultural identity. An opening celebration for the installation will feature live poetry readings, recycling demonstrations, and community engagement, highlighting the intersections of art, sustainability, and local voices. Poetry on the Plaza will be on view through September 14, 2025.

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About the artist

Nathan Justice Moyer (b. 1980) creates multidisciplinary works that explore the wasted potential of discarded materials, recycling refuse into both creation and solution. The disposable, single-use nature of our lives drives him to develop methods to transform waste into material. Navigating through both the fine art and design spaces, he engages with the rejected to showcase its beauty and utility.

A resident of Wilton Manors, he spends his time in the studio creating new techniques and new works that re-envision our trash into a product, granting it a new and lasting life. In the public arena, his community art focuses on connecting and engaging with community members throughout South Florida to showcase their talents, while also shining a spotlight on the joy and connections that can be found within our multicultural and multilingual communities.

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