LIHU‘E — Artist Briana Smith found 172 nurdles within a 10-minute period at Mahaulepu on the South Shore recently.
“That’s the most we’ve found on a nurdle hunt,” said Smith, a first-time entrant in the Kaua‘i Society of Artists Second Washed Up exhibit, during entry day Saturday, when artists brought their artwork for the exhibit created by artists using marine debris that washes ashore on Kaua‘i.
“Reds are hard to find,” Smith said. “I used red as sucker cups on an octopi piece, but that piece already sold.”
Nurdles are small pellets used to make all plastic goods. During transport, these nurdles often escape, and are currently part of the ocean and waterway pollution, said Smith, who in addition to creating art wants to raise awareness about plastics pollution.
Smith is just one of many artists who brought works for the KSA show, subtitled Marine Debris Art Show 2020, that will open Saturday, June 6 at the KSA Gallery at Kukui Grove Center and available for viewing through June 26, co-sponsored with the Surfrider Foundation of Kaua‘i.
Due to the prevailing rules and regulations regarding COVID-19, viewing hours are from noon to 4 p.m. daily, with the exception of Monday, June 8, World Oceans Day, when the gallery will be open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“How fabulous is that?” asked Melissa McFerrin-Warrack, KGC manager of specialty leasing and marketing. “The Washed Up show opens two days ahead of World Oceans Day. During the World Oceans Day, June 8, there will be the show, and in addition, the Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery (still closed due to COVID-19) will have a free, take-and-go activity for keiki and family, on ocean education. This is just for that day and until supplies run out.”
McFerrin-Warrack said the exhibit that was originally put on hold because of COVID-19 was reinstated because of the governor and mayor relaxing Kaua‘i restrictions. The wearing of face masks and other social-distancing guidelines like a 6-foot separation are in effect at the shopping center, both inside and outside the stores, she said.
“There won’t be any opening reception due to social-distancing guidelines,” said Rose Anne Jones, a Washed Up exhibit co-chair. “Instead, like the last show where awards were announced virtually, we’ll have a virtual walk-through with co-chair Abigail Boroughs, June 6, some time after the noon hour.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
