Jack and Kim Johnson put on art show to spur debate on plastic

In one of the ditties that singer Jack Johnson performs for school kids, he says that “single-use plastic is not so fantastic/We use it for a minute or two/And then it sits around for a few/Thousand years, maybe even more …”

Getting youngsters and adults alike to minimize consumption of single-use plastics through lifestyle changes has long been one of the messages the international music star and his wife, Kim, have been promoting through their Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation. And now they are spotlighting the issue through the “Plastic Fantastic?” exhibit opening Wednesday at the Honolulu Museum of Art’s Spalding House. It ends July 10.

Through the lens of art, the exhibit examines the evolution of plastic over the past century — how it has shaped global culture and affected nature. Five contemporary artists from around the world examine plastic from their own perspectives via collages, textiles, photographs and sculptures.

In a piece called “Stepping Stones,” Native Hawaiian artist Maika‘i Tubbs created sculptural rock formations made of trash inspired by plastiglomerate, a newly coined term used to describe the fusion of microplastics, rock, sand, basalt and other geologic materials.

Tubbs makes the “stones” from trash he’s found, such as paper plates, plastic bags, newspapers, cigarette butts and food wrappers.

For her contribution to the exhibit, multimedia artist Aurora Robson, who grew up on Maui and is now based in New York, transformed plastic debris into ethereal, intricately detailed sculptures using repurposed water bottles and caps combined with tinted polycrylic that resemble floral bouquets.

Kim Johnson, who has an affinity for art, approached the museum about hosting the exhibit. It is the first time the museum is offering an exhibit about plastic and the first collaboration with the Johnsons, who live on Oahu’s North Shore, and their foundation.

“I really believe in art as a medium for people to get inspired,” she said. “Everyone might be at a different awareness level when it comes to plastics, but we want to … have them at least think about it more.”

The topic is timely, given a recent World Economic Forum study predicting the world’s oceans will be filled with more plastics than fish by 2050. Plastic production has grown twentyfold, from 15 million tons in 1964 to 311 million tons in 2014. The volume of throwaway plastics is also growing, according to reports, with about 8 million tons of it ending up in the ocean every year.

But the purpose of the exhibit is not solely to preach about plastic pollution, according to Aaron Padilla, Spalding House director and curator. It examines plastic as a material that has shaped our culture and habits, both good and bad, over the last century.

There are more than 50 pieces in the exhibit, including some from Spalding’s existing collection that give a visual narrative of the history of plastic. The lightweight, durable material has brought us everything from Bakelite to hula hoops, and its practical uses range from tamper-proof medication seals to lightweight automobile and aircraft parts.

It has also provided convenience in the form of disposable water bottles, packaging and grocery bags that are now littering the globe.

“Art reflects life,” Padilla said. “Art is the way people react to the world around them. Why not have a show about this material and really look at it? We can just throw it all out there, and people can make the choices on their own.”

Seattle artist Chris Jordan illustrated the sober reality of what plastic pollution does to living creatures through a series of photos of Midway Atoll albatross carcasses full of plastic pieces. In a more subtle approach, Los Angeles-based artist Dianna Cohen assembled plastic bag collages with thread as a statement about our throwaway culture due to the proliferation of plastics.

German artist Swaantje Guntzel uses textiles to create a map of plastic impacts, including an outline of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Spalding House visitors will be invited to create their own, stringing together 1-ounce fragments of pre-drilled plastic debris collected during beach cleanups throughout the Hawaiian Isles. One ounce represents the amount of disposable plastics an average American uses every three hours. The creations will be integrated into a public art installation to be unveiled during the World Conservation Congress to be held in Honolulu in September.

School groups are welcome to tour the “Plastic Fantastic?” exhibit, which can tie into science, ecology and contemporary art studies.

The startling reality of how much plastic is in the ocean hit close to home for Jack Johnson during a research expedition with the 5 Gyres Institute that sailed from Miami to the Bahamas last summer.

“We got to the bluest water I’d ever seen,” he said. “But here’s the problem: Hour after hour, every single trawl we put out, for seven days straight, you would think you didn’t see anything and sure enough, every time you pulled it out, you could fill your hand with microdebris.”

Still, the art exhibit is not about demonizing plastic, Johnson said, nor does he expect every person who visits to walk out the door committed to using reusable water bottles.

“I mean, that would be great,” he said. “I think it’s more about starting that conversation. As with any good art, not everyone should react the same way.”