Artist Statement
We can tend to forget about our connection to the ocean when we cannot see it, and we can easily overlook how leaving a bottle on the ground can, and often does, end up floating in the ocean. During my short time in Emeryville, something that really stood out to me was how close we were to the shoreline, yet how completely separated I felt from the sea. This painting of a child wading through trashy waters while holding up the globe is a reminder that the next generation is going to be responsible for the mess we leave them. The litter is painted out of scale, a bit larger, to emphasize the importance of the message. She is not smiling because she is upset and frustrated with the situation she is in. As the figure moves through the water, the viewers are unsure of whether or not there is even a clean area of the sea for her to discover. We are left guessing and with the feeling that we need to work a little harder to help our descendants.
The Focus
Plastic Pollution & Illegal Dumping
