Story Behind This Mural
Artist Statement
"Defined as 90% depletion, it is estimated that within less than 30 years, there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans. If current trends of overfishing and pollution continue, ocean plastic could triple by 2040 and outnumber fish by 2050, and many species face collapse. When ocean species collapse, it makes the ocean itself weaker and less able to recover from shocks like exploitation and global climate change. Growing up in the Bahamas and still calling it home, these facts were heart-wrenching. Our oceans and fisheries are amongst our top resources in The Bahamas, contributing to our history, culture, and economies. Boris Worm of Dalhousie University indicates that with the implementation of marine reserves, a halt in overfishing and pollution, these devastating changes are still reversible. We are capable of restoring both the productivity and stability of the ocean's ecosystem. Bahamian environmental activist Kristal Ambrose successfully lobbied the government to ban all single-use plastics in the Bahamas in 2020. This was a major step to lessening The Bahamas' contribution to plastic use and pollution. Knowing that the damage to this ecosystem is reversible made choosing this theme to advocate and educate through the work an easy decision. Conversations sparked with locals about the mural's theme, of marine life swimming amongst a surplus of plastic, catalyzed multiple litter clean-ups in the area during my painting process. I'm hoping this ripple effect continues as the work lives on."The Focus
Plastic PollutionTake Action
Reduce your own plastic footprint by
- Using a reusable water bottle and avoiding drinks bottled in plastic
- Bringing your own bag, cup, utensils, straw, etc.
- Shopping in bulk, reducing packaging waste
- Choosing reusable and compostable goods over less sustainable materials