Preparing for the Kodiak Marine Debris Art Project

We are still weeks away from hosting artist-in-residence Sheryl Maree Reilly to begin work on the numerous small mosaics and the massive sculpture that will be the centerpiece of the ongoing Kodiak Marine Debris art project.  But dozens of volunteers have already helped get the materials ready.

We were thrilled to have 23 people turn out on November 19th to help do the initial sorting, organizing unsorted marine debris neatly into cubic-yard bags of plastic, metal, foam, or line.  What took a few of us an entire week in 2010 took this crew just two hours.  At  the end of the day we had our entire haul sorted and ready for recycling.

Today we thawed, washed and sorted marine debris in ITN's shop.  From this point it will be cut into ever smaller pieces for application in mosaic and sculpture.  You can see all the bright colors we have to work with!

Meanwhile, industrial artist Christian Bell is in his own studio, welding and fabricating the armature that will be the "skeleton" of a giant octopus, the featured piece of the KMDAP.  He sent us this photo last night.

As you can see, this multi-faceted project is coming together.  Stay tuned to ITN for more information about ways you can help with the Kodiak Marine Debris Art Project!