Judy Leslie

The Choice celebrates twenty-four women who sailed from Hawaii to Vancouver and Seattle in the spring of 2018 aboard the 72 foot sailing vessel Sea Dragon.  Their voyage of exploration and sailing adventure was designed to raise awareness of the devastating impact of single-use plastic trash swirling around in the North Pacific gyre. The multidisciplinary crew of the Sea Dragon collected data and samples for their partner scientists. 

The left-hand side of this art piece represents present day conditions.  Plastic is not biodegradable, but photodegradable and breaks down into ever smaller pieces known as micro plastics.  Micro plastics are ingested by sea life causing starvation and toxicity.

The right-hand side of this art piece represents hope for the future. With advances in science and a global effort, plastic pollution can be reversed.  ‘Weedy’ sea dragons, represented by the logo on the Sea Dragon vessel, could once again inhabit unpolluted waters.

Techniques:

• Left-hand side: an array of yarns trapped under the cotton panel; cotton panel slit open to reveal an assortment of colors and textures; free-motion quilting; some beading; text
• Right-hand side: free-motion quilting; sea dragons decorated with fabric paints, cut out and appliquéd to the background

The Choice was chosen for inclusion in the SAQA 2021 virtual exhibit Impressions of Oceania from Around the World.  A detailed view of this artwork can be seen on the SAQA website.