Hillsborough Students Turn Debris From Sea Into Works Of Art

Tampa FL

23 November, 2021

1:25 PM

Description

TAMPA, FL — When Force Blue, a team of 55 divers made up of former military-trained combat divers and veterans of Special Operations Forces, were finished with their deep-dive cleanup in the Gulf of Mexico, a mountain of trash had been deposited on the beach. It more than a ton of crab traps and crab trap buoys, fishing ropes, plastic water bottles, soda cans, car parts and a few things the divers couldn't identify. In most cases, this debris would have been deposited in the county dump, but Erin Saldino, kindergarten through 12th grade supervisor of visual and theater arts education for Hillsborough County Public Schools, had another plan for the trash. She distributed the deep-sea litter to 14 Hillsborough County schools, and challenged students to use their creativity to turn the trash into treasures. The results of their creativity will be on display at The Florida Aquarium Tuesday through Nov. 30. The project was nearly a year in the making. As part of Super Bowl LV's initiative to make an impact on the environment in host cities, NFL Green, the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee, Pepsi Stronger Together, The Florida Aquarium and Force Blue joined forces for the cleanup that took place in January before the Super Bowl was played at Raymond James Stadium. Hazard To Marine LifeEvery year about a million tons of plastics, which don't biodegrade, are deposited in the world's oceans. Hundreds of marine species become entangled in or mistake plastics for prey and ingest it. As a result, seabirds, whales, fish and turtles suffocate, die of starvation as their stomachs fill with plastics they can't digest, suffer internal injuries and outward lacerations and other injuries. Equally hazardous are discarded crab trap and fishing lines in which manatees, dolphins and sea turtles become entangled. Force BlueForce Blue divers, working with the aquarium and the NFL Green initiative, collected more than a ton of trash from the Gulf of Mexico.The world-famous dolphin at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Winter, who died Nov. 11, was discovered 16 years ago when she was a 2-month-old calf entangled in a crab trap line. Because the line was wrapped so tightly around fluke, she eventually lost her tail. While the official cause of her death was an inoperable intestinal torsion, a condition in which the intestines randomly twist on themselves and block the flow of blood, the aquarium's veterinary team said the condition could have been brought on by the injuries she suffered as a calf. "These lines can sometimes go for miles, and it is an entanglement for manatees, for dolphins, for sea turtles. We've had many cases where they've been entangled, so it's really critical that we clean these up off the reefs," said Debborah Luke, senior vice president of conservation at The Florida Aquarium. The aquarium has dozens of protected and endangered sea turtles found entangled in crab trap lines. A Creative MessageSaladino said she was amazed at the way the students at the 14 schools where she distributed the debris were able to take something that represents so much suffering to marine life and transform it into art with a message. The Florida Aquarium"A Lasting Legacy in Tampa Bay: Conservation Inspiration through Art" consists of 24 pieces of art by Hillsborough County public school students."When we look at these pieces, they are very overwhelming," she said. "The first thing we look at is the beauty. When we look a little closer, we realize how overwhelming it is that so much debris is out there. We are really proud that our students learned a very important lesson about conservation and also a lesson about using their art for communication." "Every piece that came in, we just got more and more excited," said Debi Stone, senior vice president of learning at The Florida Aquarium. "When we stepped back and looked at all the art, we said 'Wow, these kids are really creative. We hope that the art can help people think about our impact on the environment." The 24 pieces of art were submitted by Armwood High School, Caminiti Exceptional Center School, Cleveland Elementary, Dover Elementary, Forest Hills Elementary, Foster Elementary, Gibsonton Elementary School, Lopez Elementary, Muller Elementary, Newsome High School, Rampello, Randall Middle School, Riverhills Elementary and Summerfield Elementary. "As students learn in a variety of ways, combining creativity with environmental stewardship concepts allows us to engage youth in a unique and memorable manner," Stone said. "Having the opportunity to work with The Florida Aquarium has not only provided students the opportunity to use art as a way to communicate the importance of such an important cause, but also for them to see that their community supports the importance of their personal voice," said Saladino. "Now, more than ever, our students are finding how their personal voice can change the world." Stone said she hopes the artwork will strike a chord with aquarium visitors. "While we know that the participating students expanded knowledge and awareness about plastics in our waterways, sharing their work with our aquarium visitors expands this awareness by bringing student-driven messages to thousands of people of all ages," she said. "It also allows students to be part of a public art exhibition, an unforgettable experience that can build confidence in young artists who are learning how powerful their voices can be." "A Lasting Legacy in Tampa Bay: Conservation Inspiration through Art" can be viewed as part of general admission to the Aquarium. See related stories: Florida Aquarium Makes Historic Discovery To Save Coral ReefsFlorida Aquarium Takes Another Step To Saving Endangered CoralTampa's Florida Aquarium Named No. 3 In Country In USAFlorida Aquarium Celebrates 25th Anniversary With Expansion