Experiments in Installation

Plastic pollution has become a major focus of environmental agencies on a global scale.  This work addresses the growing amount of plastics being found in waterways and the increased death rate it is having on marine animals, specifically birds.  According to the United Nations Ocean Conference, 2017, plastic waste kills nearly one million sea birds every year.

Construction of this artwork brought me to one source of marine debris, the beach.  Plastic marine debris was collected, washed, and sorted before being encased in gelatin. Three gelatin eggs are filled with small plastic pieces and nestled into a bird’s nest.  This found nest contains plastic fragments put there by a bird and sits upon a branch wrapped in plastic bags.   The branch base is held upright by two cinderblock fragments.  The cinderblock fragments are tied together with lengths of rope and cords found on the beach.  The spaces are then filled with more debris and beach seaweed.

Upon entering this installation, the audience listens to the song Three Little Birds, by Bob Marley, at a low level.  While viewing this installation the viewer is draw to the nest which requires them to stretch their body to see down into it.  While the song suggests to “not worry about a thing” the viewer may begin recognizing the irony in the song because the particles inside the eggs are plastics.  These eggs will never become birds and this nest holds issues the viewer should be worried about.   Additionally, the sea weed adds a slight unpleasant fragrance to the room because it is fresh from the sea and beginning to decompose.  Finally, as the water evaporates from the gelatin the plastics will be exposed, like the millions of sea birds that die every year found decomposed with a stomach full of plastics.