Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs is honored to share the winners of our eighth annual Ocean Awareness Contest, an international call for art that invites teenagers to create pieces that explore and raise awareness of ocean conservation issues. The most recent Contest asked students to address species, places, or systems being impacted by climate change. Thousands of youth from 69 countries and 49 U.S. states responded with works of art that paid homage to marine life such as dugongs, plankton, polar bears, and sea turtles; places from the Arctic to Venice and Kerala to the Chesapeake Bay; and critical ecosystems like coral reefs, estuaries, and mangroves. Many students also portrayed the impacts of the climate crisis on human communities, covering topics such as public health, food security, economics, and migration.
Jane Zhang, age 13, Canada
“I believe the value of polar bears’ lives are no less than humans’, and since we all share the same planet, we should take good care of each other.”
“I believe we need to teach others about the problem caused by climate change and find ways we can all work together to help fix them. We need to keep reminding ourselves that our oceans and coral reefs are worth saving because, in a hundred years, it may be too late.”
“I ‘m concerned about climate change and the effect on our planet. Even more, I’m concerned about the careless attitude of people who do not realise the future of our beautiful planet will depend on our decision.”
“My exploration of climate change has emphasised to me that the issue transcends individual experience and that various communities will be impacted differently, which is heavily due to class and wealth. I would like to continue to raise awareness because I believe that this aspect of climate change is not talked about enough.”
“As global warming becomes increasingly pressing, we risk not only our shelters but also our culture and knowledge. I plan to further advocate for this cause and take actions in everyday life such as using renewable materials and conserving energy to contribute to resolving climate change problem.”
“The girl’s sign slip below the water, echoing how ‘WE’ as a generation are being overwhelmed by the reality of what our future may be. Even though things look bleak, she hasn’t given up. She’s still holding her breath, the determination on her face says that she won’t die to the waves. She remains resolute in her cause, calling the people to vanquish the oncoming Climate Catastrophe and save her, save the world, and save the future.”
Our participants’ moving tributes to threatened wildlife and places special to them demonstrate how all of us are affected by the climate crisis, no matter where in the world we live. Their creations also reveal the power of the arts to make the issue of climate change more relevant, to spark dialogue about our planetary emergency, and to advocate for climate action. They remind us of what is at stake if we don’t change course — urgently, radically, fairly, and compassionately.
To view, read, and watch all of the 2019 Ocean awareness Contest winners, visit bowseat.org/winners.
The 2002 Ocean Awareness Contest, “Climate hope: Transforming Crisis,” is open now through June 15, 2020, to students ages 11-18 worldwide. Join our global community of 13,000+ young people who are using their creative voices to speak up for the blue planet! For more information, go to www.bowseat.org/contest.
Author: Alyssa Irizarry is passionate about helping students of all ages discover and creatively explore their relationship with the natural world. As Senior Vice President of Bow Seat, Alyssa guides the organization’s strategic development and success through innovative educational programming, partnerships, and outreach initiatives. Alyssa has been a speaker at numerous symposia, conferences, and events on topics such as art as activism, STEAM education, and Prior to Bow Seat, she was an environmental educator for ten years, managed marketing and communications for an international environmental nonprofit, and published award-winning research on using murals as a tool to educate and engage communities in ocean conservation efforts. Alyssa attended Tufts University, where she studied art history, environmental studies, and studio art.
Organization: Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs is a Massachusetts-based nonprofit whose mission is to engage youth in ocean conservation and advocacy through the arts. More than 13,000 middle and high schoolers from all 50 U.S. states and 106 countries have participated in Bow Seat’s educational programs, including the Ocean Awareness Contest, an annual global call for art that explores critical ocean conservation issues. Visit bowseat.org for more information about Bow Seat’s initiatives, educational resources, and collection of student artwork and creative media.
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media