By Sigrid Tidmore
Estuary field science came alive for a group of Sulphur Springs teens when they decided to create a mural about how our daily lives impact Tampa Bay’s estuaries and waterways. One Waterway One Tampa Bay, a 12-by-8-foot portable, mosaic mural and art installation made entirely of plastic refuse, made its debut at the Hillsborough Community College Art Gallery earlier this summer to resounding accolades for creativity, communication and community engagement.
Funded by a mini-grant from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, the teens learned about coastal life through museum and aquarium trips, field expeditions and river, bay and beach clean ups. The young people were deeply distressed by the quantities of refuse they found, even in pristine areas, which led them to further investigations. Experts from the Tampa Museum of Photographic Arts helped train the youth in photographic documentation techniques.
With volunteers from the University of South Florida as well as neighbors and friends from across the region, students collected river and bay flotsam and then turned the cleaned items into mosaic pieces. Those who have seen the mural are immediately drawn to touch the vast diversity of found detritus — for while it makes a beautiful picture, the net result tells a disturbing story of unintended consequences. Visitors are invited to participate in a scavenger hunt to find 40+ surprising items that make up the design — everything from bicycle tires to hypodermic needles.
The traveling mural is frequently displayed surrounded by strands of thousands of plastic bottles which remind visitors that the Americans use 1500 water bottles every second of every day (and less than 20% are recycled.) The result: our waterways and oceans are being poisoned and our precious estuaries are endangered.
The mural will be displayed at the National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration (Oct. 20-25) at the Tampa Convention Center, then reside on the V.I.P. suite level of the Tampa Bay Times Forum for the next year.
The teens and staff behind this exhibition are part of Community Stepping Stones, a nonprofit learning center offering an integrated arts curriculum designed to inspire, educate, and prepare at-risk youth to become successful adults. Using expressive arts projects, teens tackle core subjects such as science and mathematics that require them to think critically, investigate, innovate and find practical solutions. The fun of imagination increases knowledge retention and encourages a joy for learning — thus improving in-school performance.
Community Stepping Stones’ campus in historic Mann Wagnon Park is perched on the banks of the Hillsborough River at the top of the Tampa Bay estuary system (where salt and fresh water first meet.) Manatees, alligators, waterfowl and a large assortment of turtle and fish are common sites along the peaceful riverbanks. To find out more about this project or Community Stepping Stones: call 813-957-1720 or visit
www. CommunitySteppingStones.org.
Originally published Fall 2012