Unveiling the Potsdam Toilet Gardens to Represent Protest in the Most Imaginative Way Possible
In the small town of Potsdam, New York, an accidental and weird tourist attraction has become renown amongst locals and foreigners alike: the Potsdam Potty Gardens. What began as a quirkily deviant manner of protest has now expanded into a kaleidoscopic display of differently colored toilets, turning otherwise humdrum front lawns into works of avant-garde art.
The Toilet Gardens Come into Being
The roots of this bizarre garden go back to 2004, when neighborhood man Hank Robar chose to make a statement. Pissed off at the city for failing to rezone a property he possessed on Market Street, for which he wasn't able to sell to Dunkin' Donuts because of the zoning, Hank did something fairly clever: he decorated his yard with toilets of various hues. What began with a single installation soon expanded to other locations around town and became the Potsdam Potty Gardens.
These weird yet striking displays quickly attracted the attention of visitors, and in no time people were coming to Potsdam simply to see what was becoming famous as "toilet art."
A Quirky Expression of the American Dream
These toilets are more than colorful yard ornaments; they stand for the American dream, exercising creativity and free expression to stand up for an idea. The protest has continued for over two decades, drawing in curious visitors from both near and far. His unusual artwork is scattered across Potsdam, turning the ordinary yards into art galleries that express humor and resilience.
Asked about the Toilet Gardens, Hank related the beginnings of his protest: "I started it because they wouldn't rezone the property. The village wasn't happy about it—they took me to court—but there's nothing they can do about it. I keep everything neat, picked up, and mowed."
But even after the town resisted, and even after a Dunkin' Donuts was built just a couple of blocks away, Hank's protest lives on in the form of his decorative toilet gardens.
A Funky Addition to Downtown Potsdam
While the Toilet Gardens have become the centerpiece of Potsdam's unusual attractions, there is much more to the town in terms of seeing and experiencing. The old downtown area has a quaint appeal to it, with historical buildings surrounded by graffiti-laden alleys. Complementing these urban attractions, the Raquette River runs quietly through the city and offers walking trails along its shores.
For those willing to travel outside of Potsdam's city limits, the surrounding community of Hannawa Falls has quiet, waterfront spots that offer a nice balance to the quirky creativity provided throughout the grounds of Hank's gardens.
The Reaction of the City
Of course, the city did not ignore this very unusual protest by Hank. The Toilet Gardens stirred up quite a furor, and the town dragged him into court over the displays. But according to Hank himself, the courts did not find sufficient legal reason to shut down the gardens. "They took me to court," Hank recalled, "but they can't do anything about it. I keep everything maintained.
The Toilet Gardens, over time, have received media attention well beyond Potsdam to include newspapers as far away as Syracuse, and even NBC News. Tourists stop by frequently to take pictures of Hank's colorful creations, turning what began as a contentious protest into a popular local attraction.
But what happens to the toilets that have reached the end of their useful life span? Well, Hank's got a plan for those, too-in every broken and worn-out piece, there is also a "back lot," a graveyard or sorts for toilets that can no longer grace the front yard.
A Creative Legacy
Among the hundreds of toilets that have adorned Hank's gardens, there is one that stands out: a true masterpiece-a personal favorite among hundreds of installations that really captures the essence of the entire project. And that is creativity born from frustration, humor, and readiness to push boundaries.
A Toilet Tour Worth Taking
Unique to say the least, the Toilet Gardens of Potsdam are both an amusing and provoking twist on the concept of public art. Not quite smelling like roses, this toilet represents a specific example of how art was used both as protest and creative outlet.
If you ever get the chance to go to upstate New York, a side trip to Potsdam will be well worth your while. The Toilet Gardens are truly the epitome of one man's determination and the realization that even in the most unlikely of places, art does indeed flourish. Whether you appreciate the humor, history, or novelty, these Toilet Gardens of Potsdam will keep you busy.
You never know, you may find your favorite piece of "toilet art" on the way to it.