Learn with us online while the Exploratorium is temporarily closed. You can help us reopen—donate today.
Free with museum admission
All Ages
Note: With photographer Kip Evans and artist Claudio Garzón in person
As the great gyres (rotating ocean currents) that move through the Pacific Ocean wash out an increasing amount of marine debris, a surprising outcome has been a profusion of artworks repurposing the plastic waste.
This program features the short documentary Gyre: Creating Art from a Plastic Ocean, which surveys the work of the Gyre Expedition, a group of artists and scientists dedicated to creating art from the garbage as a means of raising awareness about the devastating environmental effects of the debris.
Following the screening, photographer Kip Evans will discuss his work with the Gyre Expedition, as well as his experiences as a photographer, videographer, and educator on over fifty ocean explorations worldwide.
Featuring:
Gyre: Creating Art from a Plastic Ocean (2013, 20 min.) by J.J. Kelley
And from 2:30–4:30 p.m., visitors can transform ocean debris into art with Los Angeles–based artist Claudio Garzón in a hands-on, drop-in workshop. (All materials provided.) Garzón is known for his Plastiko sculptures—sleek, steampunk marine creatures made from plastics found on Los Angeles beaches.