Full Title: Spoiled – Refrigerators of New Orleans go outside in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. And they have things to say.
By Tom Varsico
New Orleans: Tom Varisco Press, 2005
Pages: 44
Dimensions: 6.25" x 4.5"
Cover: soft
Binding: staple-bound
Process: offset
Color: full color cover and throughout
Edition size: 7000
ISBN: 1-4243-0095-9

We recently came across this beautiful little book by accident. It is a collection of photographs by New Orleans-based designer Tom Varisco. It presents a small story, within the greater tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, of one of the hundreds of ways that the storm impacted the people of New Orleans.

Varisco writes on the inside cover of the book:

Most residents could not return to their homes for at least three weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit. They found their homes without power and their refrigerators filled with spoiled food. Most refrigerators were placed outside for pick up and disposal.

Varisco noticed that people would put their refrigerators out by the curb and would write messages on them. Sometimes the writing takes the form of public criticism of failed government relief efforts. Other messages make jokes about the horrible contents to be found inside.

Each copy was signed by Varisco.