Some years ago, I helped organize an art competition in Indonesia that asked students to describe what aspect of their "natural world" was important to them. After reviewing hundreds of entries, the then Minister of Fisheries and Marine Affairs lamented that nearly all entries depicted forests and land animals - less than 10% of entries focused on marine life which was pretty surprising for a country that has more sea than land.
That caused me to ponder how artists select subjects and how they express their values through art.
I have been really impressed with the vibrant "marine art" scene in Alaska - there are clearly many amazingly talented and concerned artists who bring Alaska's seas to life. But I wondered if that same sense of passion was nurtured in younger artists?
Imagine then my delight in viewing entries in the 2011 National Ocean Science Bowl (NOSB) Art Show, "Ocean Connection" which are currently on display in the Alaska SeaLife Center atrium. As these photos indicate, they feature a diverse array of sculptures, paintings and drawings representing many facets of marine life. While this is clearly a different context than the Indonesian contest, walking around these painting evokes a strong sense of optimism about how the next generation sees their future interwoven with the future of our oceans.
I encourage anyone visiting Seward in the next week or so to come in and have a look at these as they give a fascinating insight into how people view and feel about our amazing marine ecosystems and the diversity of life in those systems.
That caused me to ponder how artists select subjects and how they express their values through art.
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