Congratulations to Victoria H., (age 13, Red Cloud) who won a notable submission award for her work, Transformation, in the Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest in 2023! Her work stood out from more than 4000 entries worldwide! Her work celebrates Boyan Slat, The Ocean Cleanup. We are incredibly proud and excited to support Victoria’s creative work that can help build a sustainable future!
Attached is Victoria’s reflection about the piece:
“There are about 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the ocean, with approximately 46,000 in every square mile, and the numbers are rising. In my illustration, the purple spots on the earth represent areas where much plastic and other trash have been identified. Numerous overwhelmed marine creatures are being tasked with the burden of survival – anything can happen to them, from getting trapped in the cocoon of a fishing net, to dying from starvation due to suffocating plastics. However, these ocean animals do not stand alone. Many ocean activists are fighting alongside them, pushing for a change. I especially focused on the climate heroes cleaning up trash in the ocean and on the shore. From the beach to the sea, from the ocean to the world, even the smallest actions people take can make a difference. The aim of my artwork is to illustrate the negativity of the present and the potential of what we can change in the future. I personally chose to draw sea turtles because they are one of my favorite animals, and since they can live up to a century, they might be able to witness the impact and outcomes of our efforts.”
