Noordhoek Art Point Gallery, whose ethos is to make art accessible to all, has introduced monthly themed exhibitions into their events this year. This has not only allowed them the opportunity to showcase exquisite local pieces, but to also use these themes to connect people and build awareness to issues we face in South Africa.
In June, to celebrate World Ocean Day on 08 June, the gallery will be hosting an exhibition called āInto the Deepā showcasing some of South Africaās beauty within the ocean. From majestic whales by Jared Jed Kruger to quirky octopus illustrations by Tuesday Houston, they will be exhibiting both well-known names and those new to the art scene.
For this exhibition, Noordhoek Art Point has chosen to focus on the dire issue of ocean plastic pollution. To do this, they have invited Michelle Beattie to feature her work in the exhibition. Michelle takes plastic that she has collected on our local beaches and turns them into exquisite pieces of art, which is no small feat.
Michelle Beattie’s journey with beach plastic started as a young child when she used to collect what she called āMermaids Tearsā on the beach in Plettenberg Bay where she grew up. Years later, now living in Kommetjie, Michelle spotted more of these āMermaids Tearsā on her local beach in Kommetjie. After doing some research, Michelle discovered that they are in fact a raw form of unmanufactured plastics called nurdles. This discovery opened her eyes to the catastrophic issue called āOcean Plasticā and the enormous threat it is imposing on our environment and marine life. Over the past decade, Michelle has been made increasingly aware of the amount of plastic that enters the ocean and what lands up on our beaches. Michelle picks up plastic off her local beach almost daily. It seems never ending as her studio fills up with all sorts of plastic. It was in 2020 that Michelle started creating her impactful art with a message of urgency for environmental awareness and the reactions that she received from family and friends encouraged her to continue her art journey. Thus, educating and making people more aware of the impact we as consumers are having on the ocean and all its living organisms. Giving the ocean a much-needed voice.
Into the Deep opens on 1 June and will run untilĀ 25 June, with an opening event on Thursday 8 June at the gallery. They will host a variety of events focusing on the ocean, such as talks on ocean matters as well as poetry reading and whiskey tasting. If you would like to know more about Noordhoek Art Point and their events, please visitĀ www.noordhoekartpoint.co.zaĀ and click to the newsletter link.
