There is a buzz at the downtown Burien post office. A remarkable art exhibit has popped across the street, and it packs a powerful message. Called, “Sea to See” — it is a collaboration between age 50+ artists Denese Bolin and Kim McCormack. It will be in place through September 30th at The Maverick, 15045 5th Ave SW in Burien on the corner of 6th Ave SW and 150th right across the street from the Post Office.
Our world is overrun with plastic and other reusable textiles. So as artisans, Bolin and McCormack noticed what could be done with plastics and reusable textiles in people’s lives. This is an exhibition of objects, apparel, and images using plastics and reusable textiles.
“The theme is the Sea. The Sea because tons of plastic in unused trash continues to be there forever. What we are humbly suggesting is people finding a way to live with these consequences,” said Bolin, who is 71 years old. The collaboration between these artists includes apparel, because that is what they do professionally. McCormack, who is 62 years old, runs Kimmi Designs and Bolin runs Sew That, both Seattle-based businesses.
In this storefront window, you see the use of plastics in dresses, hats and mats. You also see plarn (plastic yarn). The team cut plastic bags into strips and crocheted or knitted them into hats and clothing. The textiles are mainly plastic and reused/scrap materials. The duo has worked professionally collaborating on many projects previously. “I suppose that we find each other’s strengths a benefit,” said Bolin, who created the garments and balls of plarn in the installation.
McCormick decided to collaborate on this project because of her drive to reduce plastic pollution. “We both worked to make the accompanying ‘sea life’ to create an underwater seascape. We’ve worked on many projects over the last several years with upcycling messages of various kinds,” said McCormick.
The goal of this art installation is to inspire people to look at everyday plastic objects around them and to raise awareness of how we consume and dispose of the plastics we use.
“Oceans are full of plastics, islands and islands of disposed plastics floating throughout the oceans. This is causing harm to our neighbors of the oceans and ourselves. It is necessary to reduce the creation of new plastics, we must make use of the billions of plastics already in existence,” said McCormick.
Plastics have a virtually limitless lifespan when reused by upcyling or recycling them. Plastic can also be ironed into sheets to create fabrics for sewing, as seen in the display as well. Plastics can be melted to create new products like clothing, toys, furniture, building and construction materials, as well as raw materials for 3-D printing. “Recycling is essential to tackle plastic waste and create a more circular economy of plastics and petroleum usage,” said McCormick. “Demand for recycled products leads to reuse of existing plastics resulting in reducing plastic pollution.”
John Schieszer is an award-winning national journalist and radio and podcast broadcaster of The Medical Minute. He can be reached at medicalminutes@gmail.com
