iRubbish - Ted's Scrap Yard Front Trailer

the scrap yard

Anyone that has lived in or around Greenville is probably familiar with the scrap yard on Walker Street next to the railroad tracks. It’s been there for as long as I can remember and Ted, the owner has been there too. He’s quite the character and reminds me of a crusty old sea captain sailing the high seas of scrap ready to be processed.

You can find Ted there most days rain or shine in his grease stained work shirt like a gas station attendant from another era, torch in hand, eyebrows untamed and a wild look in his eye as he methodically cuts, stacks and tell stories to anyone willing to listen. He’s a legend!

Since 2013, I’ve walked past Ted’s scrap yard (or…”recycling center” as he tells it) with my dog Ray, capturing photos of its ever-changing chaos on my iPhone. I fell hard for the endless parade of rusty old motors, twisted reflections, and accidental sculptures and quickly decided to start an Instagram page to share my discoveries.

Now, after years of posting sporadically on Instagram, I have accumulated nearly 900 filtered images and countless more that didn’t make the cut. It blows my mind how snapping a few shots each time I walked Ray around the block has now become much more…it’s become an art project that documents one last glimpse of each object before it moves on to it’s next purpose. It’s a marking of time and utility not only for the objects, but for myself and good old Ray who moved on early this year.

So now I walk alone, but I believe that Raymond is still by my side, anxiously anticipating the opportunity to chase the feral cats that live within Ted’s chaotic jungle of scrap.

Thanks for taking the time to check out my iRubbish page. Please visit my iRubbish Instagram page to see the results and if you’re interested in hanging one on your wall...visit my online shop where you can purchase prints.

Thanks, CJ

iRubbish on Instagram

iRubbish Prints

side note

All iRubbish images were captured on an early-generation iPhone and transformed through Instagram’s filters and quirks. Because of this process — and the fact that these are native, low-resolution mobile files — some prints may show noticeable pixelation, especially at larger sizes.

This isn’t a flaw; it’s part of the character of the series. The lo-fi texture reflects both the tools used to create the work and the rough-and-ready nature of the Scrap Yard itself. These images aren’t meant to be polished—they’re meant to be a final glimpse at beauty hidden in fragments that were never meant to be seen.

When you purchase an iRubbish print, you’re collecting the process, the moment, and the story just as it was captured. Imperfection is part of the experience.