Art created by 24 students from across the region delivers a powerful message about marine debris and plastic pollution.
The art creations come on the heels of the aquarium’s partnership with the NFL during Super Bowl LV, which involved a beach cleanup and marine debris removal at Anna Maria Island entitled Dive 55. More than one ton of debris was collected in and around the Gulf of Mexico, including crab trap buoys, fish netting and fishing line. The debris was sanitized and distributed to the students from the Hillsborough County Public Schools system.
Students from 14 schools converted the waste into pieces with titles such as Dolphin & Friends and Roseate Spoonbill. The students combined their creativity and environmental stewardship to create these memorable pieces.
“The strength of our art education programs in Hillsborough County Public Schools is due, in part, to our supportive relationships with our community members,” said Erin Saladino, Supervisor for Visual & Arts Education, K-12. “Having the opportunity to work with The Florida Aquarium has not only provided students the opportunity to use art as a way to communicate the importance of such an important cause, but also for them to see that their community supports the importance of their personal voice.”
Students, she said, are learning how to find their personal voices to change the world.
Plastic waste is harmful to wildlife and the places it lives. The consumption of single-use plastics reaching the world’s waterways is a problem many organizations are working to address. The art pieces, according to The Florida Aquarium, are meant to inspire visitors to expand their own awareness about plastics in waterways.
