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...
...to Elephant Rock and the beach...
...to its distinctive lighthouse, this little town is a true gem on the coast. But there's one thing that makes it truly unique: its outdoor art.
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.
That's right - each sculpture created by the organization, Washed Away, is constructed using trash found on Pacific beaches.
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.
Visit the Washed Ashore Gallery and Volunteer Workshop to see even more art, and learn how you can help.
The exhibit is full of even more ocean trash sculptures - from fish, to sea turtles, to a huge sculpture that looks just like the ribcage of a whale.
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.
The gallery is located at 325 2nd St. SE, Bandon, OR 97411, and is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m..
If you haven't yet seen Bandon's most inspiring art, you need to visit soon!
Visit the Washed Ashore website to learn all about this project, which now includes exhibits all over the country.
While you're in Bandon, stop in for a visit to this candy store that you'll want to visit again and again.
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