Washed Ashore

My friend Trina and I checked out the Washed Ashore exhibit at the Marine Mammal Center today.

The Washed Ashore community project aims to educate and create awareness about marine debris and plastic pollution through art. Washed Ashore is sponsored by Artula Institute for Arts & Environmental Education whose mission is to provide opportunities to express and teach environmental issues through the arts.

Community members are working together to clean-up our beaches and process the debris into art supplies to construct giant sculptures of the marine creatures most affected by plastic pollution. This has resulted in thousands of pounds of debris cleaned up from Oregon beaches and an educational touring art exhibit to showcase the sculptures.

Meanwhile, we're dreading the arrival of Japan's tsunami garbage in a few years.





















The relatively simple bleached coral reef made from styrofoam looked very real.





There are a half-dozen more pieces on display at the Marine Mammal Center in the Marin Headlands now through October 15. Admission is free. For those of you who don't know about the Marine Mammal Center:

Our mission is to expand knowledge about marine mammals—their health and that of their ocean environment—and to inspire their global conservation. Our core work is the rescue and rehabilitation of sick and injured marine mammals, supported by state-of-the-art animal care and research facilities, a corps of dedicated volunteers, and an engaged community.

Marine mammals are not infrequently found with gross injuries, even gunshots. When the COSCO Busan tanker crashed into the Bay Bridge in 2007 and hemorrhaged fuel into the Bay, oiled birds and animals found around the Bay Area were brought here for rehabilitation. When you come, you can see some of the animals currently under care from an observation deck. This is all located just a few minutes north of Point Bonita Lighthouse, by the way.