A new project aims to catch plastic waste before it hits the coast and use it to create community art. 

The You, Me and The Sea community art activation and installation is a collaboration between Invercargill art and museum space He Waka Tuia and artist Janet de Wagt.

De Wagt will visit schools throughout Southland to create artworks, before opening up a special space in He Waka Tuia for visitors to come and create a piece themselves.

Advertisement: Aparima Restuarant & Bar

Advertise on the Southland App

“It’s a way of highlighting the plastic that ends up in the sea, that fish and animals eat, and to slow down the process of it getting to the dump, and actually making it into an art form that is based on the sea,” she says.

Everyone’s invited to contribute to the underwater scene that will be created in the gallery. 

Visitors to He Waka Tuia will be able to register for workshops to help make the artwork, which will also include pieces created by school pupils over the seven weeks.

Advertisement: Te Anau Panel Beaters

Advertise on the Southland App

Meanwhile, people are asked to continue to drop off their – thoroughly cleaned – plastics to the special You, Me and The Sea drop off bins at various locations in Invercargill.

The final pieces of You, Me and The Sea, will be displayed amongst de Wagt’s paintings as well as taonga and artefacts from Southland Museum and Art Gallery to form the Coastal Murihiku exhibition, which will open on May 29.

De Wagt said she hoped that those who chose to participate in You, Me and The Sea – whether that be dropping off their plastics, joining in the creation of the artworks, or coming to view the exhibition, took one particular message away with them:

“Realise how special the Southland Coast is, and not to pollute it.”

Advertisement: Trenz Homes

Advertise on the Southland App

You, Me and The Sea drop-off bins can be found at He Waka Tuia, ILT Stadium Southland, and Invercargill Public Library.

To find out more about You, Me and The Sea workshops, and how to get involved, contact He Waka Tuia on (03) 211 8408