THE topical issue of the impact of plastic on our oceans has been brought closer to home through a temporary exhibition by a Stocksfield photographer.
Jay Smith, who studies fine art at the University of Sunderland, has created an installation to be displayed on the Shields Ferry called Clean Up Isle Sea.
Images she has captured will be displayed across the windows of the Spirit of the Tyne passenger ferry, for passengers on the half-hourly crossings between North and South Shields to look at.
They contrast wide seascapes with close-up images of waste becoming embedded within our seas and beaches, highlighting that the environment is not always as clean as it first appears.
They were taken in the area from South Shields to St Mary’s Lighthouse at Whitley Bay.
“There has been a great deal of interest around the problem of plastics in our oceans, and I hope my work makes people aware that marine pollution is not a problem that is far away, but one that is a lot closer to home,” said Jay.
“Clean Up Isle Sea asks people to question damage that we have done to our coastline by contrasting wide seascapes with close-up images of waste becoming embedded within our environment.”
Jay originally approached staff at the Shields Ferry as part of her course, which encourages students to get their work displayed in public places.
The images are transparent, allowing people to see the work from inside and outside of the ferry, and prompt people to consider the damage we have done to our coastline.
Ferry manager Carol Timlin said: “Jay’s photography brings a very topical issue into real local focus; the river mouth, coastline and beaches are magnificent natural assets for our region and we need to look after them.”
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