Twenty-Two Million Pounds of Plastic (2026)

20” x 30”

Acrylic paint on canvas, mixed media, found plastic materials

In collaboration with Dr. Sarah Janssen, from the USGS M3 Research Laboratory

Twenty-Two Million Pounds of Plastic is a mixed media piece that explores what we do not always see behind the glimmering surfaces of the Great Lakes. The USGS M3 Research Laboratory focuses on the many contaminants within these lakes. These contaminants include microplastics and toxic metals, such as mercury, which is silvery and metallic in appearance. The lab also researches how these contaminants move throughout the environment surrounding the Great Lakes. Upon our collaboration, I was informed that 22 million pounds of plastic debris enter the Great Lakes annually. This inspired me to begin gathering plastic materials that would have otherwise been discarded. I feel the way I sourced my materials for the creation of this piece was imperative to reinforcing its message.