This summer, there’s more to see at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo than just real, live animals — you can also see sculptures of fish, penguins, polar bears and more made entirely out of marine debris.
Running until September 14, the Washed Ashore exhibition blends art with environmental activism. The Washed Ashore non-profit organization has cleaned over 300 miles of beaches in the Pacific Northwest, processing and repurposing more than 60,000 pounds of human-caused marine debris to create beautiful, larger-than-life sculptures of marine life. Designed to teach environmental sustainability, this exhibit aims to increase awareness of the impacts of plastic pollution on sea life, as well as encourage better recycling habits.
The Washed Ashore exhibit features 15 indoor and outdoor sculptures sprinkled throughout the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo’s grounds. The exhibit is viewable during regular operating hours and is included with daily admission and memberships. Visitors can refer to the zoo’s website for an online map of the sculptures’ locations.
Both striking and educational at the same time, Washed Ashore’s sculptures are a powerful visual reminder of the marine animals impacted by pollution.
210 St. George’s Drive N.E., calgaryzoo.com/washed-ashore
