Our nascent attempts to change fate and reduce plastic currently in our environment will never keep up with what is already in the world and being added daily. We must discuss plastics to address what has already happened,  the how and why it happens, so we can reduce the impact for future generations. Plastics in the ocean and on land are broken down and have become smaller than the human eye can see and they are omni-present, including inside our bodies.

The evincing nature of taking action creates more action by others. Our true worth can be measured in how we help others and the planet.  It is much better to understand the challenges that plastics bring to our world than to accuse. The impact of plastics is ubiquitous, perennial, never ending and a challenge for this and the next generation. Everything we see and think about is filtered and sifted through our memories and as I sifted sand on a beach collecting plastics for this project, it was heartbreaking, tragic and something inside me broke.  All tragedies, at least in literature, have an ending, this plight on the environment will not end. I will never be the same after creating this work. I will not despair as the next time I am at a beach or walking on a city street I will pick up the plastics I see. I am too small to change the big problems but this big problem is not going to change me, I will still move forward in hope for solutions to the plastic waste.

Every sentence spoken to educate about plastics and every action taken to remove plastics from our world makes a difference. Is it possible to normalize the act of picking plastic from the beach rather than seashells?

Exhibitions of the work

Process Images

printed seaweed (giant kelp)

printed buoys and fish nets

printed buoys, beach toys and fish nets

planning large scale bull kelp

studio helper

rope, nets, bouys (with two colours) and beach toys

frayed rope

close up bouy and fish net

paper bouys

paper bouys

new seaweed and practicing installation

making paper bouys

making paper bouys

making paper bouys

making paper bouys

seaweed panels by type

installation practice

Detail image of lego piece and small bits of broken off plastic

Adding beads to represent the knots on fish net with my friend Dawn

Testing install ideas

adding beads while looking over Victoria Harbour.

Testing installation on hotel mirror

detail of beads on printed nets

testing layering at Dawn's

assembling buoys

assembling buoys

assembling buoys

patterns created staining the cloth before printing

patterns created staining the cloth before printing

patterns created staining the cloth before printing

patterns created staining the cloth before printing

patterns created staining the cloth before printing

printed seaweed

Three squeegee printing

Three squeegee printing

post it notes used as screen block out

post it notes used as screen block out

the chaos

the chaos

post it notes used as screen block out

planning buoy placement

printed right through onto the table

Kelsey Ford, Squeegee handler and all round assistant

sea weed printing

Kelsey keeping the screen locked in place

another type of seaweed, a solo cup and toothpast tube

more panels printed and stacked