Why This Small Seaside Oregon Town Is One Of The Most Unique In The U.S.
By Catherine Armstrong|Published October 31, 2018
×
Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Oregon’s small towns each have something unique to offer, and that’s certainly the case in the little coastal town of Bandon. Check out the art installations here that are far from typical. In fact, they’re helping educate, inform, and inspire change.
Located just south of Coos Bay, there are so many things that make Bandon special. From its quaint, charming Old Town...
You'll find several jaw-dropping art installations around town, and they're not your typical bronze sculptures. These artistic displays are all made of trash.
Washed Ashore is a non-profit that seeks to educate the public about the trash in our oceans and on our beaches, and the organization gets its point across in the most beautiful way. Now a worldwide venture, Washed Ashore got its start right here in Bandon in 2010, when creator Angela Haseltine Pozzi decided to use art to make a difference.
Did you know that humans produce approximately 300 million pounds of plastic every year? Only about 10 percent is recycled - much of it ends up in landfills, and millions of pounds of plastic ends up in our oceans.
You'll find several outdoor sculptures around Bandon, and each one is breathtaking. From afar, these pieces of art look like any other sculpture. But when you get get close, you'll find all kinds of recognizable trash. Remember that time your sand pail got left at the water's edge and a wave carried it away? How about the time you accidentally dropped a plastic cup off the side of a boat? It's all right here.
You'll learn about the devastating effects of trash in our oceans and on our beaches, and can even take a workshop where you'll help wash and sort plastic debris to make more art.
