For Immediate Release
February 19, 2020

Professor’s Virtual Swim Spotlights Ocean Plastics Crisis

One family’s year-long accumulation of plastic and a virtual reality (VR) experience demonstrating the impact of our throw away culture on our oceans is the topical subject of Suffolk County Community College Visual Arts Professor Meredith Starr’s Plastic Swim.

The interactive virtual reality experience and pool of plastic waste consumed by the artist and her family in one year is juxtaposed with a summer beach party and the North Atlantic garbage patch.

In the VR artwork, the viewer walks on a New York City beach before swimming in a wondrous aquatic world dense with swirling plastic.

Starr created Plastic Swim at the Technology, Engineering, Art and Music (TEAM) Lab at Harvestworks in Manhattan. Music for the project is donated by Claire Evans, lead singer for the pop band Yacht.

This pop up exhibit at Wayfarers Gallery is timed to raise awareness about the new Bag Waste Reduction Law, which takes effect March 1, 2020 that bans the distribution of plastic carryout bags by certain retailers in New York State.

Starr teaches Foundations Visual Arts courses at the Suffolk’s Eastern Campus, including 2D Design, 3D Design, Drawing I, Drawing II and recently co-chaired a roundtable discussion at the College Art Association annual conference about incorporating augmented and virtual reality in Foundations classes.

Plastic Swim
An installation of one family’s accumulation of plastic and a virtual reality experience reflecting the impact of our throw away culture on the ocean.

Opening Reception: Friday, February 28, 6-9pm
Saturday February 29, by appointment
Sunday, March 1, 1-5pm
Wayfarers Gallery
1109 DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn
www.brooklynwayfarers.org