Washed Ashore: Pollution Awareness & More

I'm writing this with a mixture of missed opportunity and self-loathing, as I live near DC and I missed the chance to see an amazing environmental awareness exhibit at the Smithsonian National Zoo.  Insert "kicking myself" here.  I guess that's what happens when you miss that piece about it being a temporary exhibit, on location until only September 5th.

The exhibit:  Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea.

The purpose:  To transform plastic pollution into art to create awareness and potential change in the way we treat "trash."

The art:  All of the art for the various sculptures comes from reclaimed trash found in oceans. In total over 6 years, the team of artists created 66 sculptures using 38,000 pounds of marine debris found off the coast of Oregon.  Unfortunately, this is a mere fraction of what is actually out there in the world's oceans.

So whereas it's now mine and the Greater Metropolitan DC's loss, there's still a few more days for anyone in Atlanta, and here are the next cities in line.

• The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta until Sept. 25th, 2016

• Denver Zoo in Colorado: Sept. 24, 2016 to Jan. 16, 2017

• Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma Washington:  Apr. 17--Oct  16, 2017

• Reiman Gardens in Ames Iowa: May--October 2017

You can also follow future exhibits on the Washed Ashore Exhibit page.  Likewise, the Washed Ashore website is a great place to go to learn more including videos on the making of the art work and also ways to get involved.


Images are from Washed Ashores Ocean Ambassadors:  http://washedashore.org/ocean-ambassadors/; video from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNEJhPj_yUY