By Frances Armstrong 

Writer/Reporter 

What is your creative outlet? Art is known to be made from just about anything, and whatever comes to our creative minds can have a significant impact on the environment and our community.  

Art is visible in all places. All over the United States and right here in the Twin Cities, artists express their creative minds through sculpture, graffiti, murals, art fairs, and festivals. Art is found just about anywhere you go and as you are walking you might see some form of art. When you’re driving or taking the bus, next time you’re out and about just take a moment to see if you see anything that is art. You might notice something you did not notice before; your neighbor could have a beautifully landscaped garden with statuaries; that’s art right there. 

Recently, I discovered sculptured art in Como Park Zoo. As you are walking through these sculptures, they really stand out. From sea creatures to land animals; these sculptures are unique, and what makes them different is that they are part of a project called Washed a Shore by Steve Wright.  

His focus is art to save the sea. Steve and his team collect objects from the shore on the Oregon coast, and the team then recycles these objects and creates zoo related sculptures that are displayed with a name and description about all the objects that it’s made from. It is very fascinating and that is where the question comes in. What is your creative outlet?  

For artist Steve Wright and his team, art is saving, and what is found is recycled into something artistic and fun. It is saving the sea, and it is saving the environment. 

As I am studying a studio arts major and learning to become a curator, you tend to scope out this detailed art displayed everywhere you go and appreciate the art with a different outlook. Trust me when I say, you will look at art differently if you just stop for a moment and ask yourself these questions. What is your creative outlet? And what is the artist trying to communicate? What do you see? We all see something different even if you are looking at the same piece of art.  

Theres the quote, “Rock n Roll can save your soul.” I say art is like Rock n Roll. It has a voice on paper, a visual voice, and it has the reputation to calm your soul and bring joy to your day. How does art make you feel? Exactly what is it that we get from art? Is it an ah-ha moment? Or does inspiration create something awesome? Art is everywhere for us to enjoy wherever and whenever. 

Steven Wright and his team create art to save the sea. Their themed initiative, “Clean It Up: Every Day Can Be Cleanup Day,” reminds us that protecting the environment isn’t limited to Earth Day. Taking a bucket or bag with you on your next walk – whether you’re in the city, walking down your street, visiting the beach, or hiking through the woods – you can help make a difference. Every piece of trash you pick up can save an animal’s life and protect the environment. You may even find items that can be recycled into art. At its core, the message is simple: clean it up. Trash belongs in garbage cans, and we can all work together as a community to keep our environment clean. 

The nonprofit organization Washed Ashore, based in Bandon, Oregon, teaches people about the growing problem of plastic pollution in oceans and waterways. The debris used in the sculptures created by Wright and his team has been collected from Oregon Coast beaches by volunteers and partner organizations. Each sculpture is created by artists working alongside volunteers. 

Parrotfish are among the most colorful and unique fish in the ocean. Many species feed on algae while also consuming pieces of coral. The coral is ground up, passes through the fish’s digestive system, and is eventually released as sand. Over time, parrotfish produce large amounts of sand that help create the beautiful beaches we all enjoy. 

Pricilla, a colorful sculpture inspired by the parrotfish, highlights the plight of these vibrant fish, whose coral reef habitats are threatened by marine debris and pollution. Pricilla is made from toys, bottle caps, buoys, a pink comb, plastic corn-on-the-cob toys, disposable lighters, beer cans, bowling pins, toothbrushes, and fishing lures. 

Sharks are a vital part of the ocean’s ecosystems. As the exhibit reminds us, “Let’s stop feeding them our trash.” Tiger sharks are known for their large appetites and their tendency to investigate – and often swallow – almost anything they encounter. In addition to turtles, seals, birds, and other prey, tiger sharks have been found with tires, license plates, and plastic debris in their stomachs. 

Chompers is made from shotgun shells, disposable lighters, bottle caps, flip-flops, toy shovels, soda bottles, and boogie boards. 

Lead artist Steve Wright and the Washed Ashore team – including Marilyn Wright, exhibit manager Elizabeth Roberts, artist Vinne Fowler, 2D designer Donna Hutchison, community engagement specialist Kevin Smith, operations and finance director Simon Alonzo, and many dedicated volunteers – have helped create a better environment for sea life while raising awareness through art. 

Here in Minnesota, we can also make our rivers and lakes cleaner while protecting wildlife from ingesting debris left behind or washed ashore. As a community, how can we do a better job of cleaning up our environment? Can we, as a society, reduce the amount of trash that ends up in nature? Can the litter we collect be transformed into meaningful works of art? 

What are your thoughts about using trash as art? What unique or unusual public art have you discovered around the Twin Cities? What kinds of public art would you like to see more of? 

Art is everywhere, and cleaning up our environment can become a creative outlet that saves animals’ lives while making our communities cleaner for today and for future generations. Clean it up. Turn it into something creative. 

Thank you to the artists and volunteers of Washed Ashore for using creativity to help save the sea, inspire others, and remind us that every piece of litter removed from the environment can make a difference.