Glade-Wright, Robyn, and Dover, Barbara (2019) Plastic Gothic: Frankenstein, Art and the Microplastic Monster [Exhibition Catalogue]. UNSPECIFIED, Cairns, QLD, Australia.

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Abstract

Works of Art in the exhibition Disquiet: Ecological Anxieties and Transformations, interrogate the ecological impacts of marine and coastal plastic pollution.

Research Background: Research shows that discarded plastics now contaminate the diets of 90% of marine bird species, as well as turtles and seals (Diaz, 2018). Plastic never disappears; it simply breaks up into microplastics, forming an underwater “smog” affecting everything from plankton to human aquaculture (Cox, 2019). As people are the sole source of plastic pollution Changing human behaviour is key to transform the current ecological disquiet. The problem of educating community members about the threat posed by plastic pollution is addressed in this research.

Research Contribution: The travelling exhibition Disquiet: Ecological Anxieties and Transformations, by artists Robyn Glade-Wright and Barbara Dover render visible the harm caused by plastic in works that educate through the engagement of the imagination. The works of art are made for plastic waste collected on Far North Queensland beaches. They answer the research problem by presenting original artefacts that transform understandings and reveal ideas and connections in a new form. Community engagement activities that support the exhibition included: a catalogue, an artist talk, a children’s art and four stories that were distributed to schools, suitable for infant, primary, high school and senior high school levels.

Research Significance: The exhibition will be viewed by 45,000 people. The significance of the work is indicated feedback from Mackay where by 82% of the 540 responses rated it as very good or excellent. The exhibition attracted $19,400 in a touring grant. The works contributes to understandings of effective environmental communication in the arts.

Item ID:	63265
Item Type:	Book (Creative Work)
Media of Output:	Textual
Keywords:	Visual Art, Environmental Art, Environmental Communication, Climate Change, Science Communication, Plastic, Plastic Pollution
Related URLs:	Author
Copyright Information:	Copyright © Robyn Glade-Wright and Barbara Dover. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Additional Information:	"Plastic Gothic: Frankenstein, Art and the Microplastic Monster" was part of the touring exhibition "Disquiet: Ecological Anxieties and Transformations", which initiates consideration of and conversations about challenging questions regarding our use of natural resources, emissions and consumption as well as how waste is processed or discarded and how these practices impact the environment. We use plastic marine debris that has been found washed up on the beaches of far north Queensland to create works of art which amplify and raise questions about the pollutants’ resulting destruction. Exhibition dates: Artspace Mackay - Mackay, QLD, Australia, 24 January– 19 April 2020. Hervey Bay Regional Gallery - Hervey Bay, QLD, Australia, 01 May– 07 June 2020. KickArts Contemporary arts - Cairns, QLD, Australia, 06 August - 26 September 2020. Umbrella Contemporary Arts - Townsville, QLD, Australia, 13 October– 15 November 2020.
Date Deposited:	22 Jul 2020 08:59
FoR Codes:	36 CREATIVE ARTS AND WRITING > 3606 Visual arts > 360602 Fine arts @ 100%
SEO Codes:	95 CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING > 9501 Arts and Leisure > 950104 The Creative Arts (incl. Graphics and Craft) @ 100%
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