A Seal sculpture made entirely of plastics that had washed up on shore.

The face was created using foam that had been pecked by sea birds. The birds thought that foam was food so modeled it by trying to eat it.

The head was constructed from foam, bits of various plastic items, and rope.

The base of the seal sculpture was created by combining pieces of colored plastic.

Plastic bottles were attached by their lids and the side sliced to resemble seaweed.

One of the pieces of washed ashore trash had a smiley face drawn on it.

The side of the seal was covered in scraps of small bottles, lids, and wheels. Also mixed in was a piece of a cane and a thread spool.

A brush was one of the odd items embedded in the sculpture along with rope.

The sign read on the left:

From seabirds and fish to marine mammals, all animals are impacted by plastic trash in the ocean. Whether they directly ingest bits of plastic, consume fish that have eaten small plastic fragments, or become entangled in packing straps or nets, the harm is real and deadly. Entanglement in plastic is one of the most obvious hazards. Painfully restricting movement and cutting into skin, plastic can cause injuries or death to marine mammals.

And on the right:

Every Action Counts!

Purchase rope, strapping, yarn and string made of natural fibers that biodegrade.

The sign read:

The Washed Ashore Plastics, Sea Life & Art Exhibit

At the Marine Mammal Center June 25 - October 15, 2011

This entangled seal sculpture is made from hundreds of pounds of ocean trash that simply washed ashore.

Washed ashore is the vision of artist and educator Angela Haseltine Pozzi. This community art project has turned the ugly reality of ocean trash into beautiful sculptures of the marine life we strive to save, inspiring us all to rethink our use of plastics and change our habits.

Come and see 15 other massive marine life art pieces at The Marine Mammal Center.

Free Admission | Open daily 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Docent-Led Tours Available (by reservation)
MarineMammalCenterArt.org