What: Celebrate World Oceans day with new exhibit opening: From Ocean Trash to Ocean Inspiration
When: Friday, June 7th from 5 PM – 8 PM!
Where: Sanctuary Exploration Center, 35 Pacific Ave Santa Cruz CA 95060.
About: A new, temporary exhibit entitled From Ocean Trash to Ocean Conservation highlights how five local artists transform trash into handmade art to inspire ocean conservation. This is a FREE, family-friendly event open to the public!
- Mingle with local artists and view the Exploration Center’s newest exhibit: From Ocean Trash to Ocean Inspiration
- Participate in hands-on art activities using upcycled plastics
- Get tips and tricks about how to reduce your waste with the City of Santa Cruz Master Recyclers and Zero Waste Shop
- Become informed about what local organizations are doing to reduce marine debris and keep trash off our beaches
- Listen to mini-talks from local artists, artisans, and ocean advocates about how art can inspire ocean conservation!
Participating artist/organizations: Rachel Kippen and O’Neill Sea Odyssey, Glenda Lee Mahoney, Shannon McCarthy, No Trace Shop, Bottleworks451 Recycled Art, Leslie Morgan Art, The Santa Cruz County Tobacco Education Coalition, students from Mintie White Elementary School, and the City of Santa Cruz Master Recyclers.
About Ocean Plastic Pollution and Artivism:
Plastic pollution is a rising, global concern that threatens human health, and injures and kills marine life. Ocean animals can become entangled or mistake plastic for food and accidentally ingest it, and these interactions are often fatal. Additionally, plastic pollution damages and alters habitats, and can have substantial negative impacts on local economies. More than 80% of marine litter comes from land-based sources and businesses and governments spend billions internationally on mitigating and cleaning up debris. Fortunately, plastic pollution is widely accepted as an urgent problem with tangible solutions. Avoiding single-use disposable plastic items like bags, straws, and bottles are everyday actions for individuals and communities, and advocating for broader policies and producer responsibility can make a difference. Art for activism, or “artivism,” raises awareness about social issues through the arts. Upcyling plastic has become its own artistic medium, for example, and several of the featured artists use their work to engage the community on marine debris with the goal of helping to create a more sustainable society and future.
