High Level Concept
"Pacific Garbage Patch of Beauty" is an immersive art installation transforming post-consumer waste into a breathtaking underwater environment within a gallery space like Cannonball Arts. This large-scale piece offers a visual spectacle and a meditation on humanity’s impact on nature by highlighting the paradox of beauty and destruction inherent in our discarded materials. It’s all made of trash! That will feel awe inspiring and shocking, while encouraging reflection on waste, sustainability, and marine life.
Audience Experience
As visitors step into the installation, they will navigate a maze of coral formations and fish suspended from the ceiling, perhaps following a subtly textured path underfoot that evokes the feeling of sand or the ocean floor. It’s like you’re really walking on the ocean floor! Animated caustic lighting will ripple across a ceiling of silver mylar, mimicking the effect of sunlight filtering through water. A soundscape of ocean waves and whale songs will stroke your ears with the claustrophobic beauty of 100 feet below the surface.
Visitors will embark on an emotional journey beginning with awe at the stunning underwater environment crafted from waste materials. At first glance, the installation will appear wondrous but upon closer examination, its illusion will unravel— leading to introspection and guilt regarding human consumption and pollution. The experience culminates in empowerment, as visitors learn actionable steps they can take to positively impact the environment —such as reducing packaging use, participating in trash collection, and transforming waste into art.
What led to this Proposal
This installation is an extension of True Misschiff's ongoing artistic work, particularly our project SeaTrip. SeaTrip is a musical comedy short film series that explores themes of gendered labor, the trans experience, and the destructive forces of unfettered capitalism on identity, community, and the environment. Much of the narrative unfolds underwater, as told by mermaids, making this installation an integral part of our filmmaking process. Specifically, the immersive environment will serve as backdrops for multiple underwater mermaid scenes within the film. Furthermore, we envision the possibility of integrating the filmmaking process into the exhibition, potentially allowing a live audience to witness the filming of certain scenes within the installation, offering a unique behind-the-scenes experience.
​
Our True Misschiff art collective came together in 2022 to create the rock-opera Spacetrip. After staging performances in two Seattle venues, we adapted the show into a short film, which won Best-in-Show at the HUMP Film Festival. Our work consistently blends immersive visual art, storytelling, and experimental filmmaking to create thought-provoking experiences. With Pacific Garbage Patch of Beauty, we continue this approach—crafting an installation that stands as both a striking piece of environmental commentary and a functional set for SeaTrip, advancing our mission to merge art and activism through immersive storytelling. We hope to be able to film one day per month in the installation. SeaTrip will be rated PG-13.
Why This Project Fits Cannonball Arts
This installation aligns with Cannonball Arts’ mission by showcasing the intersection of art, environmental activism, and immersive storytelling. The exhibit reflects the local marine ecosystem, celebrating the flora and fauna native to the Pacific while raising awareness of environmental threats.
​
Our collective’s multidisciplinary approach—spanning visual art, music, and film—creates a uniquely interactive experience that no other installation offers. Pacific Garbage Patch of Beauty is not only a large-scale immersive work but also a living set for a film, merging art with narrative, expanding the boundaries of both disciplines.
Artistic and Cultural Context
This installation aligns with Cannonball Arts’ mission by showcasing the intersection of art, environmental activism, and immersive storytelling. The exhibit reflects the local marine ecosystem, celebrating the flora and fauna native to the Pacific while raising awareness of environmental threats.
​
Our collective’s multidisciplinary approach—spanning visual art, music, and film—creates a uniquely interactive experience that no other installation offers. Pacific Garbage Patch of Beauty is not only a large-scale immersive work but also a living set for a film, merging art with narrative, expanding the boundaries of both disciplines.
Installation Details
Our goal is for at least 90% of the materials used in the installation to come from trash and recycled sources, gathered through community donations and waste drives. We will purchase only necessary supplies such as paint and select thrifted items to enhance the design.
Footprint (3x choices!):
-
50 ft wall filled with intricate marine-inspired designs, requiring minimal floor space.
-
30 x 30 ft corner installation with suspended elements and interactive pathways.
-
50 x 50 ft corner installation, allowing for a fully immersive experience with larger sculptural components.
Technical Requirements:
-
Power access for lighting and potential projection mapping.
-
Structural support to suspend objects from the ceiling.
Sustainability & Reuse:
-
At the end of the installation, we will separate as many components as possible for reuse. Large sculptural pieces, such as marine life forms, will be sold or auctioned. Decorative flat sections will be framed and transformed into standalone art pieces. Proceeds from these sales will support SeaTrip and environmental initiatives.
-
Elements that cannot be sold will be repurposed through partnerships with local festivals, Cannonball Arts, and Burning Man camps such as Deep C and Curiodyssea. Any remaining materials will be responsibly recycled or disposed of in an environmentally conscious manner.
​
Materials & Medium:
-
The installation will primarily be constructed from cardboard, paper waste, and plastic waste. To source these materials, we will organize a community waste drive and allocate funding to incentivize donations—offering small payments to those who contribute materials or donating to an environmental charity for each pound of waste collected.
Lighting:
-
Lights hidden in coral pointing up to reflect off a silver mylar ceiling, creating a shimmering underwater effect.
-
RGB pin spots strategically placed to highlight marine life sculptures and coral structures.
-
Optional projection mapping to simulate shifting underwater scenes.
-
UV lighting to enhance phosphorescent and bioluminescent elements.
Sound:
-
Surround sound speakers for an immersive 360-degree underwater atmosphere.
-
A layered sound design featuring ocean waves, whale calls, distant boat engines, and the subtle creaks of shifting ice and coral reefs.
-
Interactive sound elements triggered by movement, such as footsteps activating bubbles or deep-sea rumbles.
Operations:
-
A simple on/off switch system to control lighting and sound for ease of daily operation.
-
Remote-controlled lighting adjustments for dynamic effects during special events or performances.
Enhancements with Funding:
-
If funding allows, we will incorporate projection mapping, high-tech lighting elements, fog machines, and bubble machines to further enhance the immersive experience.
Community Engagement
​
-
Workshops to Create Trash Art: Visitors can participate in hands-on workshops where they transform waste into art. They can take their creations home or donate them to the installation.
-
Reflection Station: A dedicated space where visitors can write and post reflections about their experience, engaging in an ongoing dialogue about environmental impact.
-
Selfie Section: A designated area designed as an interactive photo opportunity—where visitors can become the mermaid!
-
Ongoing Interactivity: A live performance space within the installation to host events, discussions, and artistic activations.
-
Garbage Drive: We will host a waste drive at the beginning of our access to the space, collecting clean plastic waste, old toys, and half-full paint cans. To encourage participation, we will pay community members for materials or donate funds to an eco-charity for each pound of waste collected. Our goal is to acquire 500 pounds of plastic waste.
-
Community Clean-Up Walk: Organizing a neighborhood cleanup event to engage the local community in direct environmental action.
We estimate that 10,000 visitors will pass through the installation over six months, offering a powerful opportunity to expose them to environmental messages and encourage them to examine their own purchasing and waste habits.
Below are three different choices of budget and installation sizes:
Scale Choices
Fish Scale
Budget: $10,000
Footprint: 50 ft decorative wall
This package delivers a visually striking, large-scale art wall featuring found materials and reflective surfaces. While primarily a passive experience, the installation will be beautiful and impactful as a statement piece, perfect for photo ops and visual storytelling.
Breakdown:
-
Creative: $3,000 (100 hours – basic design, signage, lighting/audio concepts, volunteer coordination)
-
Labor: $3,000 (100 hours – fabrication of key visual elements)
-
Install: $2,000
-
Truck rental, gas, tools: $775
-
35 hours installation (team of 5 leads): $1,225
-
-
Materials: $2,000
-
$500 – Basic AV: standard lights & sound
-
$500 – Structural materials, paint
-
$300 – Decor (mylar, hanging elements)
-
$200 – Consumables, safety supplies
-
$500 – Waste buy-back program
-
Mermaid Scale
Budget: $20,000
Footprint: 30 x 30 corner section
This package transforms the experience into a fully immersive space, allowing participants to move inside the art. The design includes several large sculptural pieces, multi-layered lighting, and interactive components like shifting reflections or sound-reactive visuals. This is a 360-degree experience where visitors feel surrounded by beauty and the message of ocean conservation.
Breakdown:
-
Creative: $6,000 (200 hours – detailed renderings, sculptural design, multi-layered audio & lighting, workshop planning)
-
Labor: $6,000 (200 hours – fabrication of environment and sculptural elements)
-
Install: $4,000
-
Truck rental, gas, tools: $775
-
108 hours installation (team of 6 leads, 2x 9-hour days): $3,225
-
-
Materials: $4,000
-
$1,000 – Upgraded AV: 1 projector, 1 bubble machine, dynamic lighting
-
$1,000 – Structural materials, paint
-
$600 – Decor (textured elements, interactive materials)
-
$400 – Consumables, safety supplies
-
$1,000 – Waste buy-back program
-
Whale Scale
Budget: $30,000
Footprint: 50 x 50 corner section
​
This package offers a fully immersive, interactive environment designed to engage visitors physically and emotionally. The space includes multiple intricate sculptures, a small stage for activations, and room for workshops and performances. Advanced AV technology and lighting effects shift and transform the space over time, making it feel alive.
This is not just an installation—it’s a destination where people can gather, create, and interact with art in a powerful, multi-sensory experience.
​
Breakdown:
-
Creative: $9,000 (300 hours – advanced design, kinetic elements, sound-reactive lighting, programming for workshops & live performances)
-
Labor: $9,000 (300 hours – complex fabrication, interactive elements, modular components for evolving experience)
-
Install: $6,000
-
Truck rental, gas, tools: $1,000
-
167 hours installation (team of 6 leads, 3x 9-hour days): $5,000
-
-
Materials: $6,000
-
$1,500 – Premium AV: 2 projectors, 2 bubble machines, 1 fog machine, programmable LED walls, sound-reactive elements
-
$1,500 – Structural materials, paint
-
$900 – Decor (multi-layered textures, reflective/mylar elements, interactive surfaces)
-
$600 – Consumables, safety supplies
-
$1,500 – Waste buy-back program
-
Comparison Table
So, you’ve seen this stellar proposal, and by now, you’re probably thinking, ‘Wow, this is amazing—how is this not an easy yes?’ But something still feels missing... Who are these people? Who’s behind this glorious trash-filled dream?
Ok!
Team
-
Writer, Designer for SeaTrip
-
Pullitzer Prize Winning Illustrator
-
Published Author
Fahmida Azim
Darren Coyote Sarkin
-
Creative Director for SeaTrip
-
Installation Artist and Sculptor
-
AV Professional
Miguel Ludert
-
Producer for SeaTrip
-
Professional Painter
and Sculptor​
Roxy Chaney
-
Producer for SeaTrip
-
VR and AR Professional
-
Installation Artist
Marketing Plan
​We are at the beginning of our SeaTrip film project and plan to release content regularly over the next six months to build an engaged audience. This installation will be a central part of that process, providing both a visually stunning experience and a compelling call to action that aligns with our environmental themes.
​
Key Strategies
-
Social Media Campaign
-
Regular updates on the progress of the installation, including behind-the-scenes content, artist interviews, and time-lapse videos of its construction.
-
A dedicated hashtag (e.g., #GarbagePatchBeauty) to encourage audience participation and visibility.
-
Collaborations with environmental influencers, artists, and sustainability advocates to expand our reach.
-
-
Community Engagement & Events
-
Live-streamed workshops and Q&A sessions to involve online and in-person audiences.
-
Partnering with local environmental organizations and schools to bring group visits and discussions into the space.
-
Interactive elements such as the Selfie Section and Reflection Station designed for social media sharing, creating organic promotional reach.
-
-
Press & Media Outreach
-
Press releases targeting arts, sustainability, and culture-focused publications.
-
Outreach to local news, podcasts, and environmental blogs to feature the installation and its message.
-
Collaboration with Cannonball Arts' existing PR channels to maximize visibility.
-
-
On-Site Film Production
-
Monthly filming sessions within the installation will not only contribute to SeaTrip but will also generate ongoing promotional content for the exhibit itself.
-
Featuring visitors and community members in our media outputs to reinforce their connection to the project.
-
-
Strategic Partnerships
-
Aligning with businesses and brands that support sustainability efforts, such as eco-conscious retailers and recycling programs.
-
Potential sponsorships or collaborations that can provide additional resources while expanding our audience.
-
By implementing these strategies, we will ensure that Pacific Garbage Patch of Beauty reaches a broad and engaged audience, driving traffic to Cannonball Arts and fostering a deeper connection between art, activism, and community participation.
And just like that, we've reached the end of this proposal.
What a trip!
Hopefully, it’s just the beginning of something amazing together.