SeaWorld's 50th Anniversary Celebration Presents Marine Debris Sculptures of Threatened Sea Life, March 2014

An unusual art exhibit of giant sea life sculptures made from ocean debris by nonprofit Washed Ashore will be part of SeaWorld's "Sea of Surprises", for its 50th Anniversary Celebration from March 2014 thru September 2015.

"The SeaWorld venue offers Washed Ashore a unique opportunity to bring our art and educational message about ocean pollution to millions of people," said Angela Haseltine Pozzi, lead artist and Executive Director of the Oregon-based organization. "Reaching the widest possible audience with our ocean awareness message is our primary goal," added Pozzi.

"SeaWorld is sponsoring Washed Ashore's new large-scale art display to highlight its commitment to the environment and passion for protecting the ocean," according to Aimée Jeansonne Becka, Marketing Communications Director for SeaWorld.

"Washed Ashore's work serves as a reminder that our animal friends need healthy environments," said Jeansonne Becka.

Washed Ashore works with community members, volunteers and school groups to clean beaches and teach about marine debris while creating giant sea life sculptures. There will be a total of twelve new sculptures created for SeaWorld. From a giant Octopus and Penguin to a Tiger Shark and Coral Reef. Four sculptures will be appearing at each of the three SeaWorld Parks in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio.

In addition to the twelve sculptures there will be accompanying signage focusing on ocean conservation and educational information about the threats of plastic pollution to sea life.

Washed Ashore's unique ocean debris art has been created by volunteers in ongoing community workshops under the direction of long-time educator and artist Angela Haseltine Pozzi.

In the last three years Washed Ashore has collected over ten tons of debris from local beaches and created a traveling exhibit of over twenty sculptures and an education program that continues to tour the United States. Washed Ashore also does commissioned work for aquariums, zoos and public and private corporations.

One of Washed Ashore most recent creations, an elaborate Coral Reef with a sea jelly and small fish all made from marine debris, will debut September 7-12 at the Association of Zoos and Aquarium (AZA) annual meeting in Kansas City MO.

About Washed Ashore:

The Washed Ashore Project is sponsored by Artula Institute for Arts and Environmental Education, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was founded in 2010. Washed Ashore is an environmental education project that uses art to raise awareness to the tragedy of plastic pollution in our oceans through community involvement. It has taken hundreds of volunteers and thousands of pounds of marine debris to create the monumental sculptures that now make up the Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea exhibit. In addition to the art workshops, Angela and her staff are currently developing Activity/Action Books and a K-12 curriculum for youth education programs.