Gyre: The Plastic Ocean

Ocean Trash as Art? You’ll Be Amazed

“Wow,” my 12-year-old twin daughter Allison said, “This is exactly what we’re learning in science right now.” She was referring to Gyre: The Plastic Ocean exhibit at the David J. Sencer CDC Museum.
This eye-opening exhibit illustrates the impact of trash, especially plastics, on our oceans. A gyre is a naturally-occurring vortex of ocean currents that can carry litter for thousands of miles. The effects on marine life are devastating. One display explains how fish get trapped in plastic bags; another one shows a flip-flop with teeth marks from sea turtles in search of food.
But the exhibit isn’t just about the ocean pollution crisis from a scientific standpoint; it equally incorporates art and features works from 25 global artists based on their interpretation of ocean debris.
The digital photograph, “Shed Bird,” showcases a collection of items neatly arranged in a circle. These items, including cigarette lighters, plastic bottle tops and buttons, were found in the stomach of a young albatross.
Grace, my other twin, said her favorite piece was a sculpture titled “Bounty, Plentiful” that resembled a Thanksgiving cornucopia. Instead of produce, colorful buoys, plastic jugs and fishing nets sit inside a black, horn-shaped container – all found in the ocean.
A National Geographic film documents the 2013 expedition to study the North Pacific Gyre off the coast of Alaska, while a shorter, kid-friendly film follows the journey of a plastic ball into the ocean. Handouts with tips on how everyone can be part of the solution are available at the end.
Kids love the bright colors, the easy-to-read displays and graphics. Parents love that the exhibit reinforces what is being taught in schools and will generate family discussions about ecological responsibility.
Although a sobering message, the creative ways the artists transform ocean trash into beauty is amazing.
– Rebecca Ruffin Leffler