April 1, 2019
Mexico
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:
Encaustic / Mixed Media
Plastic Objects
Plastic Bottles
Plastic Straws
Mixed Media / Trash
Found Turtle Skull / Plastic
Plastic Skeleton / Plastic
Plastic Skeleton / Plastic
Plastic Bags, Rope, Bubble Wrap, Etc.
Plastic / Thread
Mixed Plastic
Mixed Plastic
Styrofoam /Mixed Media
Plastic Waste
Found Plastic with Metal
Mixed Media
Circuit Boards / E-waste
Plastic Objects / Bone
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:
“Our actions over the next 10 years will determine the state of the ocean for the next 10,000 years.” ~Sylvia Earle
‘Nuf said.
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