Marine Trash to Marine Life: Educating with Art
How can we quantify how much trash ends up in the ocean while simultaneously drawing eyes and crowds? Created in 2010 by the Artula Institute for Arts and Environmental Education, Washed Ashore is a traveling art exhibition that brings creatives together to celebrate art and raise awareness of marine trash.
The Washed Ashore Traveling Exhibits feature collections of intricate, beautifully designed, giant sea life sculptures made entirely of marine debris collected from beaches. The sculptures of marine life graphically illustrate the tragedy of plastic pollution in our oceans and waterways and to encourage conservation (Washed Ashore, n.d.).
These beautifully crafted, charming yet unsettling exhibits are proven to increase visitor attendance, with recent feedback showing up to 30% more traffic (Washed Ashore, n.d.).
The sculptures are just the beginning of what Washed Ashore has to offer. They have partnered with Wild Kingdom to create an activity book offered to children who visit the exhibit, filled with enriching information about sustainability and marine life.
Wild Kingdom and Washed Ashore are also providing ocean conservation resources for preschoool and early elementary students. The “Washed Ashore – Art to Save the Sea Ocean Activity Book” will be distributed to 7,000 children alongside sculpture exhibits (Washed Ashore, n.d.).
Washed Ashore has partnered with Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom to provide adults using this book with their children, whether in a classroom or at a grandparent’s house, resources to enrich and extend the learning experience. This online hub expands the Dive Deeper! section of the book found on pages 51-52 with corresponding questions, activities, and videos (Washed Ashore, n.d.).
A great way to generate interest in recycling is by creating unique opportunities for engagement. This foundation not only teaches people how trash can be recycled to create interesting things like art, but also increases awareness about waste streams through educational material. In another effort to do the same, Washed Ashore also makes availability a high priority, allowing public inquiries about booking their exhibits and even accepting commissions for sculptures.
References
Ocean Activity Book Curriculum - Washed Ashore Education Initiatives. Washed Ashore.
https://www.washedashore.org/oceanactivitybook/
Traveling Art Exhibition - Host or Commission a Washed Ashore Exhibit. Washed Ashore.
https://www.washedashore.org/exhibit-locations/
