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Monday, July 29, 2024

The Ghost Net Monster — do and redo

Company is coming!!! On August 10, we will be hosting the Tamal Road neighborhood potluck picnic party. So we are on a mission to get our place ready, which means not only cleaning the barn and corral but also making sure that our artworks are up and at 'em. Plus, it prompted the writing of this Ghost Net Monster resume documenting the journey.

2012 The Ghost Below at The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA

In 2012, we were asked by  The Marine Mammal Center if we could "do" something with netting that had been extracted from the stomach of a whale that had washed ashore on a beach near Tomales Point. After the scientists had done their forensics, they wanted an exhibit to educate the public about the impact that derelict fishing gear can have on marine mammals. We took to the task with guidance from Anne Veh, curator, and Alex Treu, who fabricated the armature. We created the Ghost Net Monster.

Here's a short video about the project.





2013 Ocean Art Walk   Hong Kong   Stanley Bay    April 9- May 15

Hong Kong, once a thriving fishing village, has a problem with bottom trawling, overfishing, and the dumping of used fishing gear. Doug Woodring from the Ocean Recovery Alliance invited us to come to Hong Kong to create artworks to address these problems to be presented during their Ocean Art Walk. Constructed with nets gathered in a buy-back program to benefit out-of-work fishermen. Net Man loomed large on the plaza overlooking the harbor. 







2013 Hong Kong Maritime Museum May 10- July 10

After the inaugural presentation along the Stanley Waterfront, Net Man was moved to the Maritime Museum at Pier 8 in Central Hong Kong. Thanks to Doug Woodring from the Ocean Recovery Alliance and the Hong Kong Shark Foundation, the exhibit showcased art related to sharks, fishing, and plastic pollution, all in creative, colorful, and fun ways.




2013 America’s Cup Village at the Marina Green, San Francisco

The Ghost Net Monster held sway at the Healthy Ocean Project Lounge serving to give the ocean a voice.

Here's a short video about the Project.

"Through the America's Cup Healthy Ocean Project, The Marine Mammal Center, along with other Bay Area ocean conservation organizations, provide education and advocacy on three core issues - Marine Protected Areas, Sustainable Seafood and Marine Debris/Plastics - with the aim to inspire millions of people to CARE about the ocean and its inhabitants, encourage public ACTION to benefit ocean life, and leave a positive ocean LEGACY for the benefit of future generations."




2021 to Tamal Road, Forest Knolls

The Marine Mammal Center closed during COVID and decided to use that time to do a revamp and remodel. Our Ghost Net Monster had graced the courtyard for almost nine years. In December of 2012 when the Ghost Net Monster was installed, we never imagined it would be there for so long. We thought 3 months, then 6 months, then the years rolled by…When they called to ask if we would like the metal armature, it took us by surprise, especially after so many years. They wanted to keep the netting to reconfigure into a different educational display. Of course, we said YES to saving the armature and put GNM out to pasture in our front field. GNM has taken its place at Art Mind Park.






2024 The Ghost Net Monster was looking a bit bedraggled so we decided it was time for a facelift…and even a face since, somewhere along the line, the head was lost.


Thanks to Francisco Chan we were able to get the head on straight and add ropes and netting to the armature. 








The GNM is lookin' good, real good, and is ready to get this party started.