“This was such an impactful event for bringing awareness to our planet & oceans through creativity and fun in community spirit.” – Joanna
From the initial stages of posting advertisements and spreading the word to approaching the community there was a great flow of communications. The support through in-kind donations from our local RONA, IGA , host location at the Earthfair Store , enthusiasm of Volunteers to assist with the day’s events, and support from our local food truck Aqui Es Mexico arriving to enhance the festivities and nourish the attendees, all came together. The excitement of the Sunshine Coast Whale Festival joining on location, and their sharing of what we were doing was a welcome surprise and opportunity to be in a state of ‘go with the flow’ to unexpected change. It was all amazingly beautiful.
The subject matter of trash being made into artistic and practical take home projects was well accepted and engaged by many of the local children in our community and throughout the Sunshine Coast, as well as tourists and ecological wanderers that dropped in with insight and stories to share.
The projects created for take home were: plastic bottle birdfeeders, glass bottle travel candles, tin can chimes, paper folding ladybugs and a collective mixed media mural of an orca whale made from reclaimed plywood, styrofoam meat packaging, milk cartons, coffee bags, dairy foil packaging, and fabric remnants.
An extra excitement to our creation, the whale “Trash To Treasure Tiffany” will be hosted for viewing and awareness at the Tidepools Aquarium at the Gibsons Public Market on the Sunshine Coast, B.C. over the next year.
My biggest take home in this project was how seamlessly a community came together to share resources and connect through such a fun event and purposeful cause. And the overflow to continue to create awareness in the idea of our motto ‘Re-Think – Re-Use’, by having the collective whale mural be showcased at such a pivotal location of learning more about the oceans and engaging in hands on activities. I also came to a deeper awareness that even though most of us dutifully recycle, we don’t think much past that act.
I really want to thank all who took part in every facet of this project; it’s been a true gift to participate in the adventure.
Sunshine & Soulshine, Joanna
living and creating on the lands & waters of the shishalh swiya people, in honour and oneness
