Plastic Madness

We rarely rant and rave about issues that are pet peeves, irk us, or even send us into orbit. Don’t get me wrong, we have very definite opinions about things that are going on nowadays, but we tend to keep our mouths shut. We’re not Tweeters, and you’ll never see an emotionally charged political or religious rant or rave from us on any of the social media platforms. 

Maybe it’s because we’re older now and we’ve learned a thing or two throughout the 100+ years we’ve collectively lived. Maybe it’s because we’re too busy with other things. Or, maybe it’s because we figure that we’re adding more fodder to fuel the inferno of anger that burns so ardently throughout the world today. I guess we figure it’s just not worth it to jump into the fire.

However…

We really get on our soap box when it comes to “one word: plastics” (to quote The Graduate). Our planet is drowning in plastic at an alarming rate. Plastic kills millions of seabirds, turtles, and fish each year. It enters our food chain through the seafood we eat. It doesn’t decompose and leaches toxic chemicals into drinking water. Plastic litters our beaches, neighborhoods and highways. There is a floating garbage patch (made mostly of plastic) twice the size of the United States in the Pacific Ocean.

 

 

See why we are concerned?

Humankind has become single-use consumers when it comes to plastic straws, cups, plates, eating utensils, bags, etc. Unfortunately, each piece of plastic is virtually eternal. Only about 9% is recycled, 12% is burned and the remaining 79% ends up in landfills and our environment. 700 marine species are in danger of extinction because of plastic trash.

Artist Glen Rogers decided to do something about it. In 2016, she found a plethora of plastic trash while walking the beaches of Mazatlán, Mexico. We saw the same thing while we were in Xcalak, Mexico. With both sadness and disgust she invited local artists to create artwork that would engage the public and increase awareness of the global plastic crisis. Since January, 2017, the exhibition has traveled and been displayed at various galleries throughout Mexico and the United States. 

We were fortunate enough to see this exhibit, here in San Miguel. Each piece is made of trash (mainly plastic) found on ocean beaches. Here’s a few that “wowed” us because of their incredible artistic creativity and eye appeal. 

See what you think:

Adorable Killers

Robin Cole

Encaustic / Mixed Media

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Aquanet

Lanny Garland

Plastic Objects

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Biomutation #2

Kambria Anton

Plastic Bottles

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Daily Pickins

Jan Davis

Plastic Straws

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A Day on the Beach

Victoria Pierce

Mixed Media / Trash

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From the Sea / Del Mar

Emily C-D

Found Turtle Skull / Plastic

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Homo Sapiens Plasticus

Juan Pablo AF Trolle

Plastic Skeleton / Plastic

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Homo Sapiens Plasticus

Juan Pablo AF Trolle

Plastic Skeleton / Plastic

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Last Chance / Ultimo Oportunidad

Glen Rogers

Plastic Bags, Rope, Bubble Wrap, Etc.

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Latte Frio

Charlotte Forbes

Plastic / Thread

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Contaminado y Transformado: ¿La Humancida Mujer de Nuestra Futura?

Diana Thornhill Miller

Mixed Plastic

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Contaminado y Transformado: ¿La Humancida Mujer de Nuestra Futura?

Diana Thornhill Miller

Mixed Plastic

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Our Lady of Perpetual Plastic

Lena Bartula

Styrofoam /Mixed Media

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Plastification

Gabby Buenrostro

Plastic Waste

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Poison Rose

Robert Toll

Found Plastic with Metal

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In the Red Octopus Garden

Bruce Stuart

Mixed Media

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Running Out of Time

Cathy Taylor

Circuit Boards /  E-waste

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White End

Bea Aaronson

Plastic Objects / Bone

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Incredible, huh?

As talented as these artists are, let’s not give them more material to work with. How about doing something that will decrease your plastic imprint? Here are a few ways we all can use less plastic:

• Say NO to plastic straws.
• Use reusable produce bags.
• Use a reusable bottle or mug for beverages.
• Buy food in bulk.
• Buy boxes instead of bottles.
• Use matches instead of disposable lighters.
• Use a razor with replaceable blades instead of a disposable razor.
• Don’t buy frozen produce.
• Bring your own container for take-out.

“Our actions over the next 10 years will determine the state of the ocean for the next 10,000 years.”   ~Sylvia Earle

‘Nuf said.