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The Plastic Ocean: An Art Educator’s Interpretation
Summary
This paper describes an art educator's creation of a series of artworks depicting how plastic pollution harms Pacific Ocean marine life, focusing on sea turtles, seabirds, and sea lions. The project is framed as a model for integrating environmental themes into art education. It is an arts education paper rather than scientific research.
The purpose of this study was to create a series of artwork in response how plastic is affecting marine life and indicate implications for classroom use. I focused primarily on the plastic pollution in and around the North Pacific Gyre and three of the marine animals affected. I chose animals that spend time off the coast of California and painted images of the Pacific leatherback sea turtle, the Laysan albatross, and the California sea lion. Through this project I have learned a lot about myself, both as a consumer and as an artist educator. Since the beginning of this research I have changed our household ways of viewing and using single-use plastics. This study has also pushed me artistically to create works to raise awareness and inspire change. I feel confident that I will be able to use this knowledge to motivate students to do the same.