Artist Statement: A gigantic collection of plastic, trash and lost fishing nets is floating halfway between Hawaiʻi and California. It’s said its size is bigger than Texas. However, this floating mess is not unique to the northern Pacific, a similar patch of debris is migrating around every major Ocean. Especially these colorful rings have been found in the carcasses of albatross chicks, who eventually die of malnutrition. The little safety-seal rings on food and beverage containers largely could be avoided by re-designing consumer products with the environmental long-term impact in mind.

Materials & Techniques: Pieced by machine and free-motion machine quilted, hand painted & printed, inks applied, rings and fishing net attached by hand. Hand dyed and commercial cottons, cotton batiks, quilting threads, Setacolor® textile & puff paint, TSUKINEKO® ink, genuine American recycled fishing net, plastic rings from food and beverage packaging, recycled string.

Dimensions: 33 x 41 x 0

Photographer: Lisa Jenni