The 100 Days of Beach Cleans Exhibition in Taranaki
For this year’s Plastic-Free July, local artist and educator Lorella Doherty will present a large scale exhibition of beach plastic artworks. We discussed with her the aspiration behind this project and the issues we are all facing with plastic pollution.
Kia ora Lorella, could you please introduce yourself and your project?
Kia ora, I call myself a Heart Based Plastic Educator and Artist.
My passion lies in inspiring people to be conscious of their plastic use and remembering their connection to Mother Earth. By awakening people's hearts and feeling sense through my artwork, storytelling and projects.
The 100 Days of Beach Cleans Exhibition is a large-scale art exhibition showcasing every piece of plastic that was found on my 100 days of beach cleans I did in 2021 and have since been converted into art. It will be an emotive and immersive journey through beach plastic, awakening the heart and inspiring change.
Where did your idea for this project come from?
It was through my own disconnect to the Earth; life had gotten 'busy' and my daily trips to the beach and beach cleans had taken a back seat. I was also feeling called to connect to plastic on a deeper level. I wanted to play with this idea of finding beauty in the sadness.
I wanted to feel into the plastic pollution issue on a deeper level. For me, I could not do that from a screen or from indoors. And so while I was on a beach clean, the idea came to me to do this every day for 100 days to hold myself accountable for being out in the elements every day no matter the weather, and to be able to really connect into the plastic and plastic pollution issue. The idea of turning it all into artwork flowed from there.
What are your motivations behind this project?
My two main motivations are one, the knowing within me that we are caretakers of Mother Earth, to appreciate, hold reverent and to live in reciprocity with the Earth. To not only receive the gifts the Earth provides us but to give back to the Earth also.
Two, to leave behind a flourishing World for future generations. And so being a mother, and my love for my children motivates me to do what I can while we are at a crucial tipping point in history to turn the tide on plastic pollution.
Do you have any favourite artworks?
I love all of my creations because for me they are gifts from my heart. I create them all with reverence and love. The story for each artwork is as much part of the art as the art itself and that feels like it flows from a sacred place within. But one piece I enjoyed making the most was Weaving Beauty. I had never weaved with plastic before and this artform feels like it will be one I will continue to create with.
What happens to the plastic in the artworks after the exhibitions?
Every single piece of plastic I collected on the 100 days of beach cleans will be used in the exhibition, even the tiny fragments, the dirty, damaged and ugly!
It will be a mixture of artworks and installations, so some artworks are already made, and others I will create in the space. I would love all of the artworks to go to homes afterwards so I have decided to have a silent auction for each piece. People can put any price they wish, including no price at all, the intention is for them to be loved, rather than making money; it is a non-profit exhibition. Any funds that are raised through the silent auctions will go toward the book I am creating about the kaupapa.
Any plastic and artworks left over I will keep for displays for future events and for making artworks in the future. If there is any plastic unusable (there are some pretty degraded clothing items), they will have to be discarded. But not before every other option is exhausted first.
You've been doing these creations for a few years now. What have you learned along the road?
I have learned that ideas cannot be forced. We need to be in a space of openness, which for me is when I am in connection or presence with the Earth, for ideas to flow to us. 'Ideas' feel like they have an energy of their own, and if we are in a present and open state of mind and heart, we can receive them, and they will come to us in the perfect way. For me that goes for the artwork ideas, the stories behind them, project ideas, or simply how, when, where, what and why. I know now not to push an idea, I have to wait for an idea to land in my heart. And then once that idea lands, to hold it sacred. And to bring it into reality with passion, dedication and trust.
Any message you would like to share with our community?
To focus on slowing down and using less in all we do. If we can become more conscious of what we can consume less of in our day-to-day lives, rather than the almost impossible job of ridding ourselves completely of consuming, then this will have huge impacts over time.
Some ideas to get you started: showering for less time, putting less water in the jug when you boil it, driving less by ride sharing or walking/biking when you can, throwing less food waste out by using leftovers, buying less brand new items by sourcing secondhand, mending, repairing and making do. It feels much less overwhelming and achievable to simply focus on using less daily. Because with small actions often, comes change.
Thank you for your time and your great mahi! We will see you in July!
Photos: Rethinking Plastic Revolution, Lorella Doherty.
Upcoming events:
100 Days of Beach Cleans Exhibition (1 - 15 July, New Plymouth)
Opening Ceremony of the Exhibition (Fri. 30 June - 6pm, New Plymouth)
Speakers Panel (Fri. 7 July - 6pm, New Plymouth)
Plastic-Free July Kids Event (Sat. 8 July 10am to 3pm, New Plymouth)
