CARE for the Cape & Islands and Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce commission art installation at Cape Cod Welcome Center

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Yarmouth, MA – August 5, 2024 – CARE for the Cape & Islands and the Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce, are excited to announce the installation of a new repurposed art sculpture created by artivist Sarah Thornington, Ebb the Tide. The sculpture of a herring gull titled Cliodna, (Clean-nah) was produced from marine debris and post-consumer waste. This initiative is an extension of CARE’s ongoing “Reduce Reuse Recycle” campaign and aims to promote environmental consciousness among Cape Cod visitors and residents to preserve and protect the natural beauty of Cape Cod.

 

“The Cape Cod Welcome Center in Barnstable is an ideal location for this installation as it is often the first stop for many of our visitors to Cape Cod” explains Jill Talladay, CARE’s Founder and Executive Director. “They will be greeted by a 5-foot Herring Gull sculpture placed upon repurposed pilings. Signage placed by the sculpture will inform viewers of what it’s made from and offer general tips about how to ‘Take Care’ of our wildlife and natural resources”. The intention of this piece is to offer simple reminders such as to skip single use plastics, to use reusable items whenever possible, to not buy things they don’t need, to recycle, to take trash with them if garbage cans are overflowing or non-existent. It will direct viewers to CARE for the Cape & Islands’ website for more information on how they can be better stewards of our precious resources.

 

When Sarah was asked about her inspiration for the sculpture she responded “Could you imagine going to the beach and not seeing and hearing gulls? We are all interconnected; humans, the land that we live on, and all species that we share that land with. We need to become better stewards of our planet; protect what we love. Between over consumption and an excessive amount of single-use plastics we are destroying the environment for all creatures, including humans.” The gull is a PSA messenger and will benefit the public by being free and accessible public art and spreading an environmental stewardship message while stressing the importance of recycling. It will remind visitors and locals: that their actions matter; about our plastic pollution problems; that we share the planet with many other species that are relying on us; we’re all in this together; and that Cape Cod is a fragile ecosystem that deserves our protection.
The public is invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony to be held Wednesday, August 14, 11am at the Cape Cod Welcome Center, 7025 Route 6, Barnstable.
This sculpture was made possible by funding and in-kind support of many that include NOAA/Sea Grant, Open Water, Eversource, Beacon Marine, Steamship Authority. With a special thank you to Michael Magyar- The Glass Studio of Cape Cod and MassDOT.

 

For more information about CARE for the Cape & Islands, please visit www.careforthecapeandislands.org

 

CARE for the Cape & Islands™ 

 

CARE for the Cape & Islands was founded because we saw a need to balance the impact of millions of visitors to our region with taking care of our destination. Our mission is to inspire stewardship to preserve and protect the natural, cultural, and historical treasures of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Using a solutions-based, collaborative approach, CARE develops and supports sustainability activities for our coastal community. Since 2012 we have provided nearly $100,000 in funding for over 65 unique projects to preserve our past, steward our present, and champion a sustainable future for the Cape and Islands.