PORT ANGELES — A coral reef, “garbage monsters,” crowns, necklaces and other objets d’art — de beach debris, that is — are to be unveiled in an unusual display at The Landing mall atrium Monday.
Teaching artist Sarah Tucker and the Franklin Elementary School Marine Debris Art Club are mounting this show, which opens with a free public reception at 6:30 p.m. Monday at The Landing, 115 E. Railroad Ave.
Refreshments will be served in the ground-floor atrium.
Tucker has volunteered at Franklin each Thursday since February, working with students on all manner of sculptures, paintings and wearable art made from stuff washed up on local beaches.
Upcycled art
Rope, plastics, flip-flop sandals — the kids saw its potential.
“I have been hoarding their art for the big art opening,” said Tucker, who also worked with paraeducator Sherrie Ritchie and volunteer Megan Wilson to run the school club.
Back in March at Franklin’s science fair, Tucker set up a “fishing wall” like those seen at carnivals.
Rigged with a halibut fishing pole with a clip on the end, the game enabled children to cast over the wall, hook a piece of marine debris Tucker and crew had collected, and haul in their catch.
The kids loved it, Tucker said.
Since then, she has also had Jon Schmidt, coordinator of Washington Coastsavers and its twice-yearly beach cleanups, speak to the students about marine debris.
And on the April weekend following Earth Day, some of the youngsters participated in the Trashion Show, a runway show of wearable art made from beach flotsam, at Forks’ Rainforest Arts Center.
At The Landing, Franklin’s marine debris art show will stay up until the end of June, as the students go on summer vacation and, perhaps, have time to go to the beach for more art materials.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
