Make Art Not Trash

06/18/2026

Blue Boss Bob the Wrasse is on tour again, educating the public on the impacts of plastic pollution in our oceans. He has taken up residence on the Høgskulen på Vestlandet HVL campus in Bergen, Norway. This sculpture was in built in 2017 in collaboration with Bømlo Kunstlag. 📸 by Janne Robberstad

06/07/2026

Today was the big reveal! For the past year I have been working on a project that encompasses some of the most important work I have done to date. When I was approached about this project, to build a marine debris art installation for National Parks at Sunset Beach on the historic Lewis and Clark Fort to Sea Trail, I knew I had to use this opportunity to bring much needed visibility and representation to the original caretakers whose homelands this work would be placed.

Too often native people are referred to in the past tense, however we are still here, speaking our languages and practicing our cultures and traditions. That point was made very apparent during the early development stages of this project and validated my decision to pursue bringing visibility to north coast tribes. The first draft of the wayside signage that was to accompany the sculptures showed native people living along the rivers edge pre colonial contact. In the signage that depicted modern times, there were no native people, as if they no longer existed. I spoke up, pointing out that fact, and the signs were then reworked to reflect native people participating in cultural activities in the context of modern day life. If you look closely, you will see those small but significant details. A much needed step towards normalizing indigenous people within the here and now.

I am very grateful that the Chinook Nation agreed to partner with me on this project, and honored that Tony Johnson, artist and Chairman of the Chinook Nation, entrusted me with his designs and to accurately represent Chinookan art and culture. Many people and organizations came together to make this project possible: NOAA’s marine debris program, National Parks, Oregon State Parks, Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition and many others. I am grateful for the freedom they gave me to follow my heart with this project and their trust in my vision. This project has truly embodied what we Cherokee call Gadugi, one of our core community values that essentially means working together for the greater good of all. I am proud of what we have accomplished together and hope that this work inspires all who encounter it to become better caretakers of Mother Earth. May the people remember their promise to the salmon, as the salmon continue to remember and uphold their promise to the people. Wado

06/04/2026

Recently our Outreach & Education Specialist was able to support Oregon Shores in Bandon during a day with local school students! What a fun and exciting event. We helped students discuss ways that plastics enter the waterways and how we can prevent that. The students also created one panel per class of a surprise mural.

See some of their ideas below as well as the completed mural designed by Elizabeth Roberts.

It was an honor to help students see how they can make change and be !

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06/01/2026

✨️ Something amazing is coming...! ✨️

Join us on June 6th for the official unveiling of this beautiful display! All are welcome.

Created from debris collected along our coastline, this future artwork will tell a deeper story about our connection to the ocean and the growing impact of marine pollution on coastal ecosystems. It honors the cultural and ecological importance of salmon in the Pacific Northwest and invites us to reflect on how everyday actions affect the health of our beaches, waterways, and marine life.

🗓 June 6, 2026

🕑 2:00–4:30 PM

📍 Sunset Beach, Warrenton, Oregon

💲 FREE

🔗 Learn more and register at https://oregonshores.org/event/sunset-beach-marine-debris-display-unveiling-ceremony/

✨️On June 6th at 2pm, please join us for the formal program with a welcome and remarks from project partners and the official unveiling of the Marine Debris Display.

✨️Then from 2:30 to 4:30 pm, guests are invited to stay for a relaxed social hour to connect with community members, partner organizations, and fellow coastal stewards.

✨️All attendees will be entered in a free raffle to win an annual National Parks Pass and enjoy locally-sourced appetizers and refreshments. The event is open to the public and welcomes all.

Thank you to marine debris artist Elizabeth Roberts Make Art Not Trash and designer Tony Johnson of the Chinook Indian Nation, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Oregon State Parks, NOAA Marine Debris, Oregon Shores, and community partners for making this possible.

05/29/2026

Come see what I’ve been working on over the past year!

Something beautiful is coming, and we want you to be a part of it.

You are invited to the grand unveiling of a new Marine Debris Display created through a collaboration between marine debris artist Elizabeth Roberts Make Art Not Trash and designer Tony Johnson from Chinook Indian Nation , Lewis and Clark National Historical Park , Oregon State Parks , NOAA Marine Debris Oregon Shores, and other community partners.

This special gathering will highlight the importance of protecting our ocean, coastline, and salmon habitats while raising awareness about the impacts of marine debris on the Pacific Northwest.

📍Sunset Beach, Warrenton, Oregon
🗓June 6, 2026
🕙2:00–4:30 PM
💲FREE and family friendly
🔗 Learn more and signup at https://oregonshores.org/event/sunset-beach-marine-debris-display-unveiling-ceremony

05/19/2026

Over 300 students from 3 schools participated in the creation of this marine debris mural. Each class filled a 3’ x 6’ canvas panel with marine debris- for a total of 14 panels- that were photographed and then photoshopped together to reveal the final image. This years mural, featuring a grey whale and calf, could not be more timely. More than 30 grey whales have washed up emaciated on beaches from California to Washington this year. Warming ocean temperatures have impacted the food web these whales depend upon during their spring migration, making it increasingly difficult for them to find the food they need to survive. It is my hope that by engaging students through our Art & Ecology Workshops, we are able to educate the next generation and inspire them to care enough about vulnerable species like the grey whale and snowy plover, that they grow up to become good stewards of our coastlines and ocean. Grateful for the continued success of this program and to have the support of Oregon Shores, our donors and all of our amazing volunteers who have made this possible for the past 4 years. Thank you! Looking forward to our 5th Art & Ecology Workshop in 2027.

05/16/2026

Just wrapped up our 2026 Art & Ecology Workshops with Oregon Shores where we spent 4 days working with students in Coos Bay, Bandon and Port Orford. There were 3 stations students cycled through. My station was a marine debris mural workshop where each class helped fill in a 3’x 6’ canvas panel with marine debris. 14 panels were created by students and photographed before being disassembled. Students then discussed the negative impacts of plastic pollution and shared solutions for keeping plastic out of our oceans. With the magic of photoshop, those 14 panels will be digitally stitched together to reveal the final image. Students do not know what they are creating until the final image is shared with them. Stay tuned for the big reveal!

05/02/2026

Collaborative marine debris mural created by teachers from across Oregon as part of a full day of professional development workshops dedicated to exploring marine debris: where it comes from, how it impacts our coastline, and what we can do about it. Teachers were introduced to the Adopt A Mile community science project, Aquatic WILD curriculum activities, and teaching resources from Oregon STEM Hub lending libraries. The highlight of the day was using marine debris collected from the Oregon Coast to create a mural of a great blue heron and learn about the Art and Ecology Workshops we bring to Oregon Schools each spring. I am currently gearing up for my 4th year of partnering with Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition, and will be visiting schools in Curry and Coos County later this month.

03/19/2026

I have been spending some time in the evenings working on my own versions of the marine debris murals I originally created for State of the Coast last November. Attendees got to work together filling in the designs and I have been wanting to give it a go myself. It’s been a really nice way to unwind before bed and be present in the moment. A much needed mental health break from everything going on in the world. Anyhow, my plan for these are to have them made in to stickers.

01/29/2026

We just finished up our 4th year of removing marine debris from critical Snowy Plover habitat in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. Every year, with the help of Oregon Shores, U.S. Forest Service, and a dedicated group of volunteers, we are able to spend three days on some of Southern Oregons more remote and difficult to access coastline. Together we bag up and pack out over a thousand pounds of trash that washes up during winter storms. I am so grateful to be able to continue this work each year with such an amazing group of people and partners. Shout out to The Washed Ashore Project for partnering with us to take what we collect and turn it into impactful and educational art to save the sea. I would also like to thank Solve for supplying volunteers with the tools they need for a safe and successful day on the beach. Together we do good things.