the goal of my art installation and accompanying video was to bring to light “the plastic problem.” my appreciation for “temporary art” led me to ensure that my finished piece could be recycled at the end of its life. all materials were collected from the recycling bins in my dorm complex as well as the beach cleanup done along the shoreline of my bayfront campus. each piece of single-use plastic was hand woven together using fishing line and marine rope. clear plastic was chosen because it alludes to a future beyond plastic; light at the end of the tunnel.

single-use items are designed to be used for minutes and will still be on the planet for hundreds of years to come. each and every single piece of plastic that has ever been produced is still on this planet here today. plastic in the ocean chokes, entangles, poisons, and or starves wildlife and marine birds. humans are not immune to the chemicals found in plastic and the toxins that they may collect over time either. harmful toxins have been found to seep into our foods and drinks which are stored in plastic containers.

we are ready and willing to make positive changes in order to generate less plastic waste. businesses and manufacturers should offer consumers more sustainable packaging and products. in addition, they should take responsibility for the plastic waste that they create during business operations. we as single human beings have the power to create massive waves of change, even more so when people with the common goal of reducing plastic come together.

a quote from the zero waste chef, anne maroe bonneau, that has helped me through my zero-waste journey is, “we don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. we need millions of people doing it imperfectly.”

—

art installation created by anna lindquist.

video created by angelique herring.