Seaside Salvaging Results in Works of Art and Important Lessons
The New Jersey Clean Communities Council (NJCCC), a statewide, comprehensive, litter-abatement program, has awarded this year’s “Excellence in Education Award” to Eduardo Jimenez, a local artist and member of the Brigantine Clean Communities Volunteer Cleanup Team.
NJCCC Executive Director JoAnn Gemenden presented the award to Jimenez recently during the second-annual New Jersey Sustainability in Motion Conference in Atlantic City, which attracted hundreds of attendees from across the state.
“In early 2020, concerned by the amount of trash he was finding along the beach, Eduardo began to make pop-up art with each day’s haul,” Gemenden said. “His seaside salvage project now boasts permanent works including commissions and juried art contest entries.”
Jimenez walks the beach in Brigantine nearly every day with a picker and bucket, collecting litter. He makes temporary art out of what he collects before disposing of it.
“Eduardo began posting pictures of this litter art on his Instagram page,” Gemenden said. “As these posts grew in popularity, Eduardo began focusing on the most problematic items he finds, such as single use plastics.”
Jimenez has made numerous sea animals from plastic bags, straws and other single use plastics. He has also organized educational campaigns in Brigantine focusing on balloons, cigarette butts, and face masks. He uses these posts to promote litter abatement and reduction of waste.
“Edwardo’s temporary art became so popular that he even decided to make some permanent installations,” Gemenden said, noting he displays art at community events.
He had his first art show displayed at the Camden fireworks, which featured reclaimed pallet wood and matting made from littered balloons.
Jimenez also collects discarded beach toys, such as shovels and pails. He cleans and fixes them, before donating them to needy children. These items would have otherwise become ocean litter.
“Pollution, in the form of improperly discarded trash, is my medium,” Jimenez said. “My use of face masks, cigarette butts, plastic bottles, mylar balloons, and other litter is intended to create awareness, discussion and perhaps bring forth solutions for coastal conservation.”
Jimenez believes that by creating art that may be uncomfortable to view, he can spread his message about coastal conservation and lessen the growing threat caused by litter.
Learn more at NJClean.org or LitterFreeNJ.com
