Page 31 - ARUBA TODAY

A31
PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 1 august 2018
Huge sea-life sculptures made from ocean's plastic trash

By JANET McCONNAUGHEY whale ribcage made with
Associated Press bucket lids, bottles, buoys
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Huge and bait traps; a marlin
sculptures of sea life are with a beak made of fishing
dotted about New Orleans' rods; and percussive "Musi-
aquarium and zoo , all of cal Seaweed." That statue's
them made from plastic long leaves include metal
trash that washed ashore. and plastic bottle caps
There's a great white shark strung on wires so they rat-
made partly of bottle caps tle when a leaf is hit lightly.
and beach toys and a jelly- Robert and Lauryn Geosits
fish made mostly of cut-up of Mandeville, Louisiana,
water bottles. were visiting with their three
The artwork, part of a proj- children.
ect called Washed Ashore "This is such a great idea for
: Art to Save the Sea, is the people to visualize just how
creation of Angela Hasel- much trash is in the ocean,"
tine Pozzi, who started said Lauryn Geosits.
making the pieces after Her husband read from a
seeing plastic heaped by sign while their baby slept
the waves onto Oregon's in a stroller and Chelsea, 7,
southern coast. Pozzi was and Preston, 8, searched
in the town of Bandon, the shark for the items
where her grandparents he named: "There's a toy
had lived, mourning her first In this photo taken July 26, 2018, Elizabeth Torres with husband Cory Torres, takes a photo of car bumper, bottle caps,
husband's death. children, in New Orleans' Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. Associated Press beach toys, a lighter ..."
"I'd known its beaches all Asked about the strangest
my life," she said. "I went tles, and picking up other since Pozzi started in 2010 and she has permanent piece she's used, Pozzi said:
to the ocean to heal and people's litter. — help her collect, prepare exhibits at the Smithsonian "When you've processed
found that the ocean "Every piece of trash picked and assemble the beach Museum of Natural History more than 21 tons of debris
needed healing." up and properly disposed trash into art. One of their and a gallery in Bandon. into more than 70 pieces
She wants the scale of her of is a piece that will not wash-basins for plastic is a The Audubon Aquarium of of art you've seen pretty
creations to make people cause harm to local en- bathtub also found on the the Americas is currently much everything."
realize just how much plas- vironments and animals," beach. showing six sculptures, while "One of the most shock-
tic gets into the ocean — states the sign for "Greta She now has more than 70 one of a puffin is on display ing are bleach bottles that
and to act on that knowl- the Great White Shark." pieces in three exhibitions at the Audubon Zoo; more have bite marks from fish,"
edge. Signs next to each Pozzi's aim is art that is currently traveling the U.S., pieces will be added to Pozzi said.
piece suggest simple ways "beautiful, and a little hor- and has requests from over- both locations in October. A fish made entirely of fish-
to reduce the problem, rifying." seas. Her work has been dis- In addition to the shark bitten plastic is among
such as not using plastic An army of volunteers in played at zoos, aquariums and two jellyfish sculptures, the pieces to be added in
straws, re-using water bot- Oregon — about 10,000 and botanical gardens, there's a walk-through October.q

'Guardians' cast issues open letter in support of James Gunn

By LINDSEY BAHR added.
Associated Press The letter also discusses the
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chris climate that led to Gunn's
Pratt and his fellow "Guard- abrupt firing and the lack
ians of the Galaxy" cast- of "due process in the court
mates are coming out in of public opinion."
support of ousted director Gunn's current Twitter ac-
James Gunn 10 days after count is heavy on left-lean-
his firing. ing politics, and some on
In an open letter Monday the right with whom he'd
signed by Pratt, Zoe Sal- sparred found and promot-
dana, Bradley Cooper, Vin ed the tweets from 2008 to
Diesel and five other main 2011 that led to his firing.
stars of the franchise, the "James is likely not the last
cast said it fully supports the good person to be put on
director and the character trial," the cast members
he showed both on the set This combination photo shows “Guardians of the Galaxy” actors, Bradley Cooper, Chris Pratt and continued. "Given the
of the first two movies and Zoe Saldana, who have issued an open letter in support of ousted director James Gunn. growing political divide in
in the wake of his firing. Associated Press this country, it's safe to say
Gunn was let go from di- days to issue a statement rehire Gunn. gram post that he would, instances like this will con-
recting the third installment to "think, pray, listen and "Each of us looks forward "Personally love to see him tinue, although we hope
of the franchise by The Walt discuss." In the interim, vari- to working with our friend reinstated as director of Americans from across
Disney Co. after old tweets ous cast members, includ- James again in the future," Volume 3." the political spectrum
resurfaced where he joked ing Gunn's brother Sean wrote the cast members, "Although I don't support can ease up on the char-
about subjects like rape Gunn, have issued individu- who said they were all James Gunn's inappropri- acter assassination and
and pedophilia. al statements. Fan petitions shocked by the firing. ate jokes from years ago, stop weaponizing mob
The cast says it waited 10 were also started online to Pratt added in an Insta- he is a good man," Pratt mentality."q