Plastic pollution is a big problem for San Diego’s beaches – in fact, you might call it a whale of a problem.  What better way to draw attention to it than with a whale made of plastic?  L’il Gray, a life-size gray whale made from beach trash, will be installed in the hallway of the San Diego Coastkeeper office, and is the star of our show on July 1.  San Diego Coastkeeper will team up with other local museums for one night only to showcase the nautical artwork of two unique local artists.  While you’re here, you can explore the rest of Liberty Station’s museums and shops and enjoy entertainment and refreshment as part of the monthly Friday Night Liberty event.

Marine debris is a major concern for San Diego’s beaches.  Plastic pollution is one of the more problematic kinds, because once plastic makes its way into the ocean, it does not biodegrade, but instead just breaks into smaller pieces that can be mistaken for food by aquatic creatures.  They also make their way to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch , joining the other 3.5 million tons of plastic pieces in a soup out there.  Help Coastkeeper raise awareness of the issue by attending our Coastal Pollution: A Whale of a Problem.

The artists:

•    Teresa Espaniola is the artist who coordinated L’il Gray.  This artist collects trash from the beaches near her home and uses it in her gARTbage series.  She also works with children to teach them about marine debris and plastic pollution through art.

•    Myles McGuinness is a color photographer.  His work has appeared in American Advertising Federation (AAF), California Surf Museum, National Geographic, The Surfer’s Journal, Surfing & Surfer magazines and most recently in the Communication Arts 2010 Photo Annual. He is also the creative mind behind San Diego Coastkeeper’s website and annual report.

Join us on July 1, 2011 from 5:00-8:00pm at the Coastkeeper office at 2825 Dewey Road Suite 200, San Diego CA 92106 to mingle with Coastkeeper art aficionados and beach activists alike.  Enjoy light refreshments and music while meandering our hallway and perusing the art. Photo Credit: Nick Morris for North County Times