Art show, science fair, film festival and reunion.
However you want to describe it, Message in a Bottle 2018 at the Palace of Fine Arts
was all of that and so much more—
a great confab of ocean-lovers and plastic pollution activists
and students with their families who were eager to show off their work on display.
The scale and scope — a tidal wave of hope for the oceans — a buoy of up-lift.
Although we keep up with the plastic people via social media, we love being in the real (not virtual) presence of friends and colleagues Science Programs Director from 5 Gyres Carolynn Box, artist Alicia Escott, and The Story of Stuff Stiv Wilson.
After years of knowing about Aaron Hazelwood, the plumber and beachcomber extraordinaire, we had never met. He has amassed quite a collection from Ocean Beach:
We were happy to compare notes and to see among the hundreds and hundreds of the red Kraft Handi-snack cheese spreaders he has collected that he too had one green one. Back in 2010, we had corresponded with Kraft about their efforts to go "green." His find validated our thesis.
Her latest project Beyond Drifting is a remarkable re-creation of microscopic views of plastic and plankton that are presented in large scale prints and as an old science book circa 1830.
Thanks to the Internet and email we have had a long collegial long-distance correspondence. In 2015 we contributed footballs to her World Cup series. This year when she called for Coke bottle caps we shipped her a box full.
Internationally renown photographer Mandy Barker, all the way from Great Britain, was in San Francisco at Fort Mason for the Photofairs/San Francisco and at the Palace for Surfrider's Message in the Bottle.
Her latest project Beyond Drifting is a remarkable re-creation of microscopic views of plastic and plankton that are presented in large scale prints and as an old science book circa 1830.Thanks to the Internet and email we have had a long collegial long-distance correspondence. In 2015 we contributed footballs to her World Cup series. This year when she called for Coke bottle caps we shipped her a box full.
We were thrilled to add the monumental Palace of Fine Arts to our growing list that we are calling, tongue in cheek, "Scenes of Triumph." When we began our project it was something of a hobby—even artists need a hobby, right? But in the 20+ years of our project, our notoriety has been on an ever-expanding trajectory. Are we glad about this? More than for some notion of fame and "fortune" we believe we've brought awareness of plastic pollution to venues all over the planet, from Cairo to Lincoln Center, from Alaska to Brazil and on this evening in the grand exhibit hall of The Palace of Fine Arts.
Originally built for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition as a venue to showcase some 11,000 works of art — through the years The Palace went through a bad time of ruin then was restored in the 60's. The enormous space now hosts, corporate events, trade shows and even Message in a Bottle 2018. The scenic grounds are a popular tourist destination with the rotunda, colonnades and lagoon serving as popular sites for wedding photography.
Richard's story abou the Red SUV unwinds a story about The Palace and his commute to San Francisco.
Our "Spiff "and "Bottles" hung in a prominent position just inside the front door of the exhibition hall. Such fun to watch visitors taking a long good look up close at our "Barrette Wreathe."
Originally built for the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition as a venue to showcase some 11,000 works of art — through the years The Palace went through a bad time of ruin then was restored in the 60's. The enormous space now hosts, corporate events, trade shows and even Message in a Bottle 2018. The scenic grounds are a popular tourist destination with the rotunda, colonnades and lagoon serving as popular sites for wedding photography.
Richard's story abou the Red SUV unwinds a story about The Palace and his commute to San Francisco.
Our "Spiff "and "Bottles" hung in a prominent position just inside the front door of the exhibition hall. Such fun to watch visitors taking a long good look up close at our "Barrette Wreathe."
Yes, "A Scene of Triumph."
