by laura turner seydel 3As part of One More Generation’s Plastic Awareness Week at Fayette Montessori School, students created a giant sea turtle sculpture filled with collected trash to speak about the dangers this pollution poses to marine animals. Photo courtesy One More Generation
art
Breaking free from plastics through
We are living in the midst of a catastrophe. Most people know it intuitively but yet it continues. Plastic pollution continues to grow exponentially and its effects are mounting. However, plastic pollution is a problem that can truly be solved at the individual level; it is our personal responsibility. It breaks my heart that humanity continues to act so recklessly.
photo by Dominic Chavez GRAPHIC © Inktear/ Dreamstime.com
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The vast majority of plastics are not recycled, especially in states that do not offer incentives. In addition, there is also consumer confusion in the marketplace and high rates of contamination. Because oil is the primary ingredient in plastic bags, they do not biodegrade, and only break down to smaller pieces. Every plastic item that has ever been produced is still on the planet in some form. It’s hard to believe but one to two tons of plastic pollution are being dumped in our waterways and oceans every minute! Only a quarter of that pollution floats on the surface; the remaining 75% creates a plastic soup hovering above the ocean floor. Recently the National Museum of Women in the Arts asked me to give a presentation answering the question, “Can the arts influence environmental activism?” The answer is a resounding yes! Through passion and art, the following five individuals are bringing plastic pollution to the forefront, pushing out solutions, and motivating and activating communities. Plastic Pollution Coalition’s (PPC) video Open Your Eyes, narrated by Jeff Bridges (and available
www.southernSeasons.net
for free on Youtube), has been seen millions of times around the globe. Jeff was inspired to use his celebrity for this cause by artist Dianna Cohen, CEO and cofounder of PPC. A native Californian, she spent a lot of time at the beach, and like so many others became concerned about the amount of plastic pollution. After studying art at UCLA she began cutting and sewing plastic bags together as her artistic medium. She noticed after eight years the plastic in her pieces was degrading. This led her to understand the true nature of plastic – it breaks down but never biodegrades. From there she learned about garbage patches in our oceans called plastic gyres brought together by circulating currents and wind. Knowing she needed to take the next step, she formed the PPC to inspire people to put an end to the supply of one-use plastics. Several years ago Dianna introduced me to Pam Longobardi, an incredible artist and art professor at Georgia State University. Ten years ago, Pam took a trip to Hawaii to photograph beautiful beaches and sunsets. Instead, plastic trash littered the coastlines. From then on, Pam was inspired to collect the