When Life Gives You Beach Plastic, Make Trashy Post Consumer Art?!?

Of the 14 billion pounds of plastic waste that makes its way into the ocean annually, approximately 1/3 or 4.6 billion pounds is generated by Americans.

By now, most people are aware that a Texas-sized plastic particle dumping zone dubbed the Great Pacific Garbage Patch exists in the middle of the Pacific gyre (between Hawaii and California).

Discovered by Captain Charles Moore in 1997, countess articles have been devoted to its existence and the seemingly insurmountable challenge of how to clean it up.

Unfortunately, while we continue to contemplate this perplexing issue, marine scientists have also discovered an Atlantic version of the plastic garbage patch just north of the Caribbean that they believe stretches the same distance as Cuba to Virginia.

As many as 520,000 micro-particles of plastic waste have been identified in each square mile of the “new” garbage patch, which just scratches the surface of what is likely a 65 foot deep dumping ground.

It is believed that in certain areas of the North Pacific garbage patch, plastic bits outnumber vital plankton six to one.

With all of this plastic bobbing around in the ocean, much of it pulverized and battered to the point of resembling a chunky “soup”, it’s no wonder why eco-artists around the world have had plenty of fodder for their creative inclinations.

As far back as 1999, Judith and Richard Lang began collecting odd bits of post-consumer ocean debris as they explored a remote section of Northern California’s Point Reyes National Seashore.

Admitting to be beach-combing geeks, they’ve described seeing black seaweed clusters tangled with a “thick confetti of plastic bits and chunks: tiny flecks of white and blue and pink, big pastel nuggets, drink bottles, and the strew of their lids. Soccer ball size fishing floats some with the net attached and gobs of plastic line and rope of all sizes is twisted into this stupendous mess."

Certain pieces of waste stood out to them far more than others -- things like disposable lighters, BB shotgun shell containers, hair combs, discarded Kraft Handi-Snack cheese spreaders, Asian shampoo bottles, milk jug caps – you know, the usual suspects.

In one year, they ultimately collected well over 600 disposable lighters, and that was just the beginning.

The Langs made a habit of sorting, washing and color-categorizing all of their finds so that they could then make a real visual impact with their collaborative works of art. 

Creating carefully arranged collections of like-objects, their work is so visually arresting because it reflects our chronically careless regard for our environment.

This is one case where pictures absolutely DO speak far louder than words.