Washed Ashore at San Francisco Zoo

Recently we visited an amazing exhibition at San Francisco Zoo called Washed Away.

Created for the The Artula Institute for Arts & Environmental Education under the leadership of Angela Haseltine Pozzi, Washed Away features sculptures of sea creatures made from debris and plastic pollution collected from Pacific beaches. Over the last three years community members have collected over 11 tonnes of debris from Pacific beaches to create more than thirty sculptures. These sculptures form a travelling exhibit and education programs that tours the country to highlight the impact that marine pollution has on wildlife.

Visitors to the exhibition are greeted at the entry of the exhibition by a sculpture of a sea lion pup.

In the lobby a giant jellyfish made of plastic bottles and plastic shopping bags hangs in the center.

Smaller, colourful jellyfish hang from the ceiling in the main exhibition area.

See that black and yellow creature under the jellyfish in the last shot? That's an eel. A terrifying looking plastic eel.

A whale's rib cage made of plastic bottles in the centerpiece of the main exhibition area.

One of my favourite pieces in the exhibit is the giant starfish made predominantly of bottles, both glass and plastic.

I also quite like this giant sea anemone made of bottles and plastic.

These little fish were quite cute. They look like they're cooking on a rotisserie!

Another room set up with fishing nets and hanging debris was quite a peaceful spot to sit and contemplate on the exhibit. While the sculptures may be beautifully made they represent just how we are destroying our oceans and wildlife through pollution and littering. I hope that Washed Ashore's message of protecting our oceans gets through to visitors.

Washed Ashore is on display at San Francisco Zoo for just one more day.

You can find more information about Washed Ashore, including exhibit locations here.