Gyre: Creating Art From a Plastic Ocean | National Geographic

we were going to maybe the most

we were going to maybe the most beautiful place in the world and instead

beautiful place in the world and instead

beautiful place in the world and instead of being convened by the beauty or by

of being convened by the beauty or by

of being convened by the beauty or by the wildlife were convened by the

the wildlife were convened by the

the wildlife were convened by the garbage and that seems like a tragedy a

generation ago this problem didn’t exist

generation ago this problem didn’t exist and it has never existed before in the

and it has never existed before in the

and it has never existed before in the history of the planet yeah nothing we

history of the planet yeah nothing we

history of the planet yeah nothing we got we got the laundry here the Clorox

got we got the laundry here the Clorox

got we got the laundry here the Clorox and the laundry detergent they’re

and the laundry detergent they’re

and the laundry detergent they’re animals that eat enough plastic to kill

animals that eat enough plastic to kill

animals that eat enough plastic to kill them and this is really true of a lot of

them and this is really true of a lot of

them and this is really true of a lot of the sea birds into some of the other

the sea birds into some of the other

the sea birds into some of the other creatures and plastic affecting wildlife

creatures and plastic affecting wildlife

creatures and plastic affecting wildlife is a global problem every piece that I

is a global problem every piece that I

is a global problem every piece that I pick up and remove is one less piece

pick up and remove is one less piece

pick up and remove is one less piece that’s going to be inside of an

that’s going to be inside of an

that’s going to be inside of an albatross it’s one less piece is gonna

albatross it’s one less piece is gonna

albatross it’s one less piece is gonna tangle a seal

I think everybody involved in this

I think everybody involved in this project is doing it because we love

project is doing it because we love

project is doing it because we love animals we love nature we love the the

animals we love nature we love the the

animals we love nature we love the the natural world and for me that is the

natural world and for me that is the

natural world and for me that is the highest motivation I could have

this whole project is a huge excitement

this whole project is a huge excitement as a child I grew up watching Jacques

as a child I grew up watching Jacques

as a child I grew up watching Jacques Cousteau films I wanted to be a marine

Cousteau films I wanted to be a marine

Cousteau films I wanted to be a marine biologist I ended up being an artist but

biologist I ended up being an artist but

biologist I ended up being an artist but to physically end up on a ship doing an

to physically end up on a ship doing an

to physically end up on a ship doing an expedition it’s like a dream but now is

expedition it’s like a dream but now is

expedition it’s like a dream but now is becoming a reality the whole project is

becoming a reality the whole project is

becoming a reality the whole project is unusual but we’re also in not only

unusual but we’re also in not only

unusual but we’re also in not only unusual times we’re in unprecedented

unusual times we’re in unprecedented

unusual times we’re in unprecedented times you know science tells us how the

times you know science tells us how the

times you know science tells us how the world really is and how things really

world really is and how things really

world really is and how things really work and the one thing that you don’t

work and the one thing that you don’t

work and the one thing that you don’t have the time and space for in science

have the time and space for in science

have the time and space for in science is to express how that feels to you

is to express how that feels to you

is to express how that feels to you what’s interesting is this combination

what’s interesting is this combination

what’s interesting is this combination of the scientific mind and I with the

of the scientific mind and I with the

of the scientific mind and I with the artists we’re looking at the same thing

artists we’re looking at the same thing

artists we’re looking at the same thing and perhaps from different ways but I

and perhaps from different ways but I

and perhaps from different ways but I think that synergy is what’s the driving

think that synergy is what’s the driving

think that synergy is what’s the driving engine behind this project

engine behind this project

engine behind this project well I’m pegged with the the title

well I’m pegged with the the title

well I’m pegged with the the title project leader I feel now I’m just a

project leader I feel now I’m just a

project leader I feel now I’m just a facilitator helping create the stage for

facilitator helping create the stage for

facilitator helping create the stage for these voices to come together on to me

these voices to come together on to me

these voices to come together on to me there’s a deeply offensive concept

there’s a deeply offensive concept

there’s a deeply offensive concept behind plastic trash cluttering the

behind plastic trash cluttering the

behind plastic trash cluttering the landscape where the hell did all this

landscape where the hell did all this

landscape where the hell did all this come from

we’re making millions of pieces of

we’re making millions of pieces of plastic everyday and we’re throwing a

plastic everyday and we’re throwing a

plastic everyday and we’re throwing a lot of it away and that winds up washing

lot of it away and that winds up washing

lot of it away and that winds up washing into rivers and getting into the ocean

into rivers and getting into the ocean

into rivers and getting into the ocean and taking this journey it gets caught

and taking this journey it gets caught

and taking this journey it gets caught in these gigantic circulating ocean

in these gigantic circulating ocean

in these gigantic circulating ocean currents called gyres and flung back up

currents called gyres and flung back up

currents called gyres and flung back up on the beaches and a lot of that is what

on the beaches and a lot of that is what

on the beaches and a lot of that is what we see so this is the Alaska Peninsula

we see so this is the Alaska Peninsula

we see so this is the Alaska Peninsula these are all areas of those deposits so

these are all areas of those deposits so

these are all areas of those deposits so you have this big blast of coastal

you have this big blast of coastal

you have this big blast of coastal current swinging up along the coast it

current swinging up along the coast it

current swinging up along the coast it is it all plows into this Ridge you have

is it all plows into this Ridge you have

is it all plows into this Ridge you have all this up low that’s why you know we

all this up low that’s why you know we

all this up low that’s why you know we thought having this experience we have

thought having this experience we have

thought having this experience we have this really rugged landscape pristine

this really rugged landscape pristine

this really rugged landscape pristine wilderness animals whales wildlife

wilderness animals whales wildlife

wilderness animals whales wildlife didn’t see all this crap on the beaches

didn’t see all this crap on the beaches

didn’t see all this crap on the beaches I have a big curiosity as to what is out

I have a big curiosity as to what is out

I have a big curiosity as to what is out there what kind of debris comes here

there what kind of debris comes here

there what kind of debris comes here what does it look like how does it get

what does it look like how does it get

what does it look like how does it get here how long has it traveled I’ve never

here how long has it traveled I’ve never

here how long has it traveled I’ve never been able to predict what I might find

there’s just a breed literally

there’s just a breed literally everywhere

this is a from 2007 we took 40 tons of

this is a from 2007 we took 40 tons of plastic off these three beaches right

plastic off these three beaches right

plastic off these three beaches right here were 25 tonnes right on this beach

here were 25 tonnes right on this beach

here were 25 tonnes right on this beach how across just like all those little

how across just like all those little

how across just like all those little cigarette lighters we found around here

cigarette lighters we found around here

cigarette lighters we found around here albatross I’ve seen them eating even

albatross I’ve seen them eating even

albatross I’ve seen them eating even those big driftnet floats that are like

those big driftnet floats that are like

those big driftnet floats that are like six inches long yeah it’s just

six inches long yeah it’s just

six inches long yeah it’s just unbelievable

unbelievable

unbelievable with thousands of chemicals in plastic

with thousands of chemicals in plastic

with thousands of chemicals in plastic that was heavily contaminated these fish

that was heavily contaminated these fish

that was heavily contaminated these fish what else is in those fish that we

what else is in those fish that we

what else is in those fish that we aren’t even looking at it’s pretty scary

aren’t even looking at it’s pretty scary

aren’t even looking at it’s pretty scary to me when I land I’m looking to gather

to me when I land I’m looking to gather

to me when I land I’m looking to gather the information that’s already laid out

the information that’s already laid out

the information that’s already laid out in front of me I feel like Nature has

in front of me I feel like Nature has

in front of me I feel like Nature has played a hand in shifting this material

played a hand in shifting this material

played a hand in shifting this material debris that we’ve created and it’s

debris that we’ve created and it’s

debris that we’ve created and it’s putting it in a place for us to look at

you know almost like a forensic

you know almost like a forensic scientist I don’t want to disturb the

scientist I don’t want to disturb the

scientist I don’t want to disturb the the material until I’ve had a chance to

the material until I’ve had a chance to

the material until I’ve had a chance to look at it and read it and then I clean

look at it and read it and then I clean

look at it and read it and then I clean it I take it away I take out as much

it I take it away I take out as much

it I take it away I take out as much materials I can physically handle

there’s a telltale signs of our sort of

there’s a telltale signs of our sort of waste everywhere you can’t you know Goff

waste everywhere you can’t you know Goff

waste everywhere you can’t you know Goff you’re going to fall over it really

you’re going to fall over it really

you’re going to fall over it really and I started photographing plastic

and I started photographing plastic

and I started photographing plastic always Lucas in some way if you can

always Lucas in some way if you can

always Lucas in some way if you can create your message by nudging people

create your message by nudging people

create your message by nudging people through visual arts and culture that all

through visual arts and culture that all

through visual arts and culture that all sinking a little bit deeper perhaps and

sinking a little bit deeper perhaps and

sinking a little bit deeper perhaps and change people’s behavior my whole thing

change people’s behavior my whole thing

change people’s behavior my whole thing in the moment is got an interesting kind

in the moment is got an interesting kind

in the moment is got an interesting kind of like UFO stuff so I’m going to try

of like UFO stuff so I’m going to try

of like UFO stuff so I’m going to try and make it look like I’ve just been

and make it look like I’ve just been

and make it look like I’ve just been kind of almost deposited from from space

there is something about that patina

there is something about that patina something has been an out in the

something has been an out in the

something has been an out in the wilderness their words colors have been

wilderness their words colors have been

wilderness their words colors have been softened its texture has been changed so

softened its texture has been changed so

softened its texture has been changed so yeah they have some degree of

yeah they have some degree of

yeah they have some degree of attractiveness even though we find them

attractiveness even though we find them

attractiveness even though we find them impossible appalling as objects yeah and

impossible appalling as objects yeah and

impossible appalling as objects yeah and look at the colors I’m I mean just

look at the colors I’m I mean just

look at the colors I’m I mean just stunning right a lot of my work concerns

stunning right a lot of my work concerns

stunning right a lot of my work concerns the history Sciences the material

the history Sciences the material

the history Sciences the material qualities of things I think this was

qualities of things I think this was

qualities of things I think this was coffee mug well you know I think part of

coffee mug well you know I think part of

coffee mug well you know I think part of this expedition for for the artist is is

this expedition for for the artist is is

this expedition for for the artist is is really trying to figure out what pushes

really trying to figure out what pushes

really trying to figure out what pushes the visual language beyond how you might

the visual language beyond how you might

the visual language beyond how you might talk about this stuff in a way the

talk about this stuff in a way the

talk about this stuff in a way the beaches become our studio

it’s incredible is to make like the

it’s incredible is to make like the ocean made this sculpture because what

ocean made this sculpture because what

ocean made this sculpture because what it exhibit is its intent to just tangle

it exhibit is its intent to just tangle

it exhibit is its intent to just tangle the stuff up and vomit it out onto the

the stuff up and vomit it out onto the

the stuff up and vomit it out onto the beach

I was really shocked to see how much

I was really shocked to see how much garbage there is here and that in the

garbage there is here and that in the

garbage there is here and that in the course of all of its journeys it sweeps

course of all of its journeys it sweeps

course of all of its journeys it sweeps through the living areas of millions of

through the living areas of millions of

through the living areas of millions of animals that share this life with us

animals that share this life with us

animals that share this life with us they don’t deserve that and it hurts

they don’t deserve that and it hurts

they don’t deserve that and it hurts them

what will these beaches look like two or

what will these beaches look like two or three hundred years from now at the rate

three hundred years from now at the rate

three hundred years from now at the rate at which this stuff is just accumulating

at which this stuff is just accumulating

at which this stuff is just accumulating every moment of every day I think we

every moment of every day I think we

every moment of every day I think we could literally bury ourselves in this

could literally bury ourselves in this

could literally bury ourselves in this stuff I’m kind of envisioning making a

stuff I’m kind of envisioning making a

stuff I’m kind of envisioning making a really black large form that’s going to

really black large form that’s going to

really black large form that’s going to be sort of spewing out all this colored

be sort of spewing out all this colored

be sort of spewing out all this colored material I found this by itself and I

material I found this by itself and I

material I found this by itself and I couldn’t tell why the shape was so odd

couldn’t tell why the shape was so odd

couldn’t tell why the shape was so odd and irregular until I found the whole

and irregular until I found the whole

and irregular until I found the whole one so what we’re seeing is someone’s

one so what we’re seeing is someone’s

one so what we’re seeing is someone’s marketing idea for making a life’s water

marketing idea for making a life’s water

marketing idea for making a life’s water in the shape of a football helmet and we

in the shape of a football helmet and we

in the shape of a football helmet and we have now found all the major sports

have now found all the major sports

have now found all the major sports teams this object is really strange to

teams this object is really strange to

teams this object is really strange to me

me

me it’s a magical safety sneaker insole

it’s a magical safety sneaker insole

it’s a magical safety sneaker insole it’s like a cross and it even has a sort

it’s like a cross and it even has a sort

it’s like a cross and it even has a sort of radiating form coming out of the

of radiating form coming out of the

of radiating form coming out of the center so to me this would be a highly

center so to me this would be a highly

center so to me this would be a highly symbolic image I would make a portrait

symbolic image I would make a portrait

symbolic image I would make a portrait of what we’re looking at really I think

of what we’re looking at really I think

of what we’re looking at really I think is the cultural archaeology of our time

is the cultural archaeology of our time

is the cultural archaeology of our time right now you know these are the ghosts

right now you know these are the ghosts

right now you know these are the ghosts of our consumption I think they’re

of our consumption I think they’re

of our consumption I think they’re haunting the natural world in a

haunting the natural world in a

haunting the natural world in a terrifying way

yeah it’s an incredibly remote area

yeah it’s an incredibly remote area where exactly are you on this no right

where exactly are you on this no right

where exactly are you on this no right here Marshall Kodiak say 80 miles by air

here Marshall Kodiak say 80 miles by air

here Marshall Kodiak say 80 miles by air the nearest neighbor is 25 miles these

the nearest neighbor is 25 miles these

the nearest neighbor is 25 miles these are the real soil beaches when should

are the real soil beaches when should

are the real soil beaches when should you get out here this is really dirty in

you get out here this is really dirty in

you get out here this is really dirty in one day with my skiff I picked up six

one day with my skiff I picked up six

one day with my skiff I picked up six hundred pounds of net off this these

hundred pounds of net off this these

hundred pounds of net off this these beaches Coleen and Jerry live here in

beaches Coleen and Jerry live here in

beaches Coleen and Jerry live here in their home and I’m sure their idea was

their home and I’m sure their idea was

their home and I’m sure their idea was to live away from most of humanity in

to live away from most of humanity in

to live away from most of humanity in the most beautiful setting they could

the most beautiful setting they could

the most beautiful setting they could imagine I’m sure it wasn’t part of the

imagine I’m sure it wasn’t part of the

imagine I’m sure it wasn’t part of the deal in their mind to live with all of

deal in their mind to live with all of

deal in their mind to live with all of our garbage so that’s my weighing

our garbage so that’s my weighing

our garbage so that’s my weighing station where I that’s right there is

station where I that’s right there is

station where I that’s right there is where I separate the debris water

where I separate the debris water

where I separate the debris water bottles single-use plastic it’s very

bottles single-use plastic it’s very

bottles single-use plastic it’s very meta

meta

meta I’m impressed how news you know some of

I’m impressed how news you know some of

I’m impressed how news you know some of the neatest trash I’ve ever seen here

the neatest trash I’ve ever seen here

the neatest trash I’ve ever seen here this isn’t a great one if I can pull

this isn’t a great one if I can pull

this isn’t a great one if I can pull this out this is you can probably come

this out this is you can probably come

this out this is you can probably come up and look at it but almost every piece

up and look at it but almost every piece

up and look at it but almost every piece of plastic debris you find that will fit

of plastic debris you find that will fit

of plastic debris you find that will fit in a bearish mouth has those kind of

in a bearish mouth has those kind of

in a bearish mouth has those kind of tooth marks on it the Bears are

tooth marks on it the Bears are

tooth marks on it the Bears are fascinated with plastic and they eat it

fascinated with plastic and they eat it

fascinated with plastic and they eat it so what is your most weird bizarre

so what is your most weird bizarre

so what is your most weird bizarre object can you think of it I think that

object can you think of it I think that

object can you think of it I think that the thing I found that really surprised

the thing I found that really surprised

the thing I found that really surprised me the most was a plastic mannequin head

me the most was a plastic mannequin head

me the most was a plastic mannequin head as far as just out of place uncanny you

as far as just out of place uncanny you

as far as just out of place uncanny you know yeah yeah I think she’s doing

know yeah yeah I think she’s doing

know yeah yeah I think she’s doing something extraordinary I mean she this

something extraordinary I mean she this

something extraordinary I mean she this is sheer labor and done for love and

is sheer labor and done for love and

is sheer labor and done for love and she’s she’s doing the work of 100 people

she’s she’s doing the work of 100 people

she’s she’s doing the work of 100 people it’s amazing I felt like it was

it’s amazing I felt like it was

it’s amazing I felt like it was impossible to conquer last year but now

impossible to conquer last year but now

impossible to conquer last year but now I’m thinking I’m amazed at what I’ve

I’m thinking I’m amazed at what I’ve

I’m thinking I’m amazed at what I’ve seen happen in the last year with the

seen happen in the last year with the

seen happen in the last year with the awareness and the motivation we’re

awareness and the motivation we’re

awareness and the motivation we’re looking at buoys right now but in those

looking at buoys right now but in those

looking at buoys right now but in those bags is every kind of household thing

bags is every kind of household thing

bags is every kind of household thing it’s a real chance for us to take a look

it’s a real chance for us to take a look

it’s a real chance for us to take a look at our lives as a species and say what

at our lives as a species and say what

at our lives as a species and say what are we doing here to see this bottle

are we doing here to see this bottle

are we doing here to see this bottle that was laying on this beautiful beach

that was laying on this beautiful beach

that was laying on this beautiful beach now

now

now of those to use a year and what can you

of those to use a year and what can you

of those to use a year and what can you do and remember when used to find

do and remember when used to find

do and remember when used to find seashells

seashells

seashells how’s this actually being in a place

how’s this actually being in a place

how’s this actually being in a place like this and here’s someone talked

like this and here’s someone talked

like this and here’s someone talked about the packaging of our lives yes

about the packaging of our lives yes

about the packaging of our lives yes it’s not for the faint-hearted

I think there’s never been a society

I think there’s never been a society that has produced more material culture

that has produced more material culture

that has produced more material culture and taken less responsibility for these

and taken less responsibility for these

and taken less responsibility for these things don’t bother me in everyday life

things don’t bother me in everyday life

things don’t bother me in everyday life and they bother me on everyday life on

and they bother me on everyday life on

and they bother me on everyday life on the beaches of the world so in my

the beaches of the world so in my

the beaches of the world so in my composition

composition

composition I want the trash to stay as trash you

I want the trash to stay as trash you

I want the trash to stay as trash you know I want this to be an emblem of the

know I want this to be an emblem of the

know I want this to be an emblem of the material culture of a specific people

material culture of a specific people

material culture of a specific people and a specific time

we’ll nose up into the bay for world

we’ll nose up into the bay for world position the Norseman so we have a

position the Norseman so we have a

position the Norseman so we have a different kind of chore here a lot of

different kind of chore here a lot of

different kind of chore here a lot of the beaches we’ve been longer than all

the beaches we’ve been longer than all

the beaches we’ve been longer than all of you know 100 yards 50 yards a quarter

of you know 100 yards 50 yards a quarter

of you know 100 yards 50 yards a quarter mile this Beach is 10 kilometers

we are the second crew to come off the

we are the second crew to come off the Norseman having to land a little bit

Norseman having to land a little bit

Norseman having to land a little bit further up the coast off the Jew bodice

further up the coast off the Jew bodice

further up the coast off the Jew bodice and essentially what we’re doing is

and essentially what we’re doing is

and essentially what we’re doing is ferrying several thousand pounds of

ferrying several thousand pounds of

ferrying several thousand pounds of debris off this beautiful coastline

the size of this bad part there if I put

the size of this bad part there if I put my hand in it goes from there to there

my hand in it goes from there to there

my hand in it goes from there to there so that must be what that’s over a foot

so that must be what that’s over a foot

so that must be what that’s over a foot in it

in it

in it geez I see one big big mother

we’re seeing a large round there and

we’re seeing a large round there and it’s very very impressive and really

it’s very very impressive and really

it’s very very impressive and really magnificent and it’s very big these are

magnificent and it’s very big these are

magnificent and it’s very big these are the biggest brown bears in the world in

the biggest brown bears in the world in

the biggest brown bears in the world in this region and that’s one of them I

don’t have the words those little Cubs

don’t have the words those little Cubs were amazing the way they clustered

were amazing the way they clustered

were amazing the way they clustered around her and it just is you know I

around her and it just is you know I

around her and it just is you know I think a once-in-a-lifetime image to see

think a once-in-a-lifetime image to see

think a once-in-a-lifetime image to see her that close and just see the hair

her that close and just see the hair

her that close and just see the hair over her back just blowing in the wind

over her back just blowing in the wind

over her back just blowing in the wind and the baby jumping on top and just a

and the baby jumping on top and just a

and the baby jumping on top and just a whole unfolding of a moment

whole unfolding of a moment

whole unfolding of a moment I peppers why we’re here thank you the

I peppers why we’re here thank you the

I peppers why we’re here thank you the action of cleaning a beach changes you

action of cleaning a beach changes you

action of cleaning a beach changes you it puts you in the position of care and

it puts you in the position of care and

it puts you in the position of care and understanding something about our

understanding something about our

understanding something about our connection to the natural world I will

connection to the natural world I will

connection to the natural world I will take back mainly the vitality of the

take back mainly the vitality of the

take back mainly the vitality of the animals that we’ve seen and the sheer

animals that we’ve seen and the sheer

animals that we’ve seen and the sheer physical beauty of the place which is

physical beauty of the place which is

physical beauty of the place which is just a complete knockout people want to

just a complete knockout people want to

just a complete knockout people want to see the original world they don’t want

see the original world they don’t want

see the original world they don’t want to arrive and see the garbage of

to arrive and see the garbage of

to arrive and see the garbage of millions of people that has beat them to

millions of people that has beat them to

millions of people that has beat them to the place what’s important about this

the place what’s important about this

the place what’s important about this trip is reconnecting with wild places

trip is reconnecting with wild places

trip is reconnecting with wild places for me putting people in nature Foster’s

for me putting people in nature Foster’s

for me putting people in nature Foster’s love and you know and love motivates a

love and you know and love motivates a

love and you know and love motivates a change of behavior

you

you you