Catching Up With Niamh

Back in the summer, we had a chat with a friend of mine, Niamh, about her EPQ. She planned to make a sculpture highlighting the plastic pollution issue . The exhibition for her artwork was at the beginning of last month, so I thought it was high time we caught up and had a chat about it. Last time, we met in the picturesque village of Norton-in-Hales and went for a stroll in the summer sunshine. It was a bit grey and drizzly this time, so we met in the local cafe, The Hideout, for coffee and a catch up.

Her final sculpture was a shark; frame shaped by chicken wire and filled with plastic bottles collected from the college campus. I bet you can guess my immediate response was 😍. She chose this design because it was the most striking of the ideas she'd put to paper. The shark is an iconic image and familiar to the public and she, quite rightly, argued that "scary attracts more attention". She wanted something recognisable and, taking inspiration from the famous Jaws poster, she landed on the shark sculpture. Her alternatives were jellyfish, a turtle, a wave, and a whale's tail; which were all recognisable in their own rights but presented individual impracticalities. Plus, the shark gained the headmistress's approval.

To get to the final product, there was a lot of research, mood boards, and washing plastic bottles. During the research process and creating mood boards of pop culture sharks, she found a new level of appreciation for sharks. (Something I can get behind!) Not surprisingly, a lot of the pop culture sharks were great whites so that was the type of shark she based her design on. Really reinforcing the iconic status.

The whole project has been a labour of love, but also just a labour at times! Cleaning the bottles could get grim. The plastic bottle bin would be collected once a week, for that was how long it took to fill, but despite ample signage people still threw anything and everything into the bin. So there were half-eaten, mouldy brownies to deal with; as well as congealed milkshake remains in the bottom of bottles. Some students took the time to rinse their bottles, many did not. Being Niamh, she wasn't afraid to share her cleaning efforts on her snapchat story telling her friends how gross they all are!

There were some difficulties in assembling the shark itself. Things wouldn't glue together, extra materials had to be included, and she ended up using spray paint to save time, despite not wanting to use aerosols. For a while, there was little love for the shark. But in the end, she created an image she is very proud of and happy to have made. And damn straight, too.

It could get tedious at times, but she believes the whole thing was worth it.

Photo from Grove School and College

While she still has the admin side to cover, the exhibition was the first week of February. The opening day was a little slow but it picked up over the week. Along with the shark, she had presentation boards filled with information about the dangers of single-use plastics and how we can avoid using them. Over all, the exhibition went really well. She has been featured in the local newspaper, the Shropshire Star, which she is especially pleased with. While she never wanted to boast about her project, she wanted the project to be as wide spread as possible, to spread the good word. The shark has also made an appearance at a recent parent and governors meeting, and gained a lot of interest. Presently, it is installed in college as a reminder to the students to use less plastic.

To measure if her project is having the desired effect, Niamh put out an anonymous survey during an exhibition asking of people's plastic habits. The results revealed a shocking amount of people using eight or more bottles a week but all expressed the desire to use less since visiting the exhibition. The results are hopeful and creating positive waves - the aim of the game. Niamh, herself, has been approached for advice, been told of anecdotes of change, and invited to teach a class of year 11 boys about plastic use. 

Photo from Grove School and College

When reflecting on all she'd learned over the project, her simple response was, "Loads." In researching plastics and recycling, she found that 90% of the plastic ever made has not been recycled. She'd always been aware that recycling wasn't the answer that it has been advertised as, but these numbers really made it hit home. In her words, recycling is "near pointless", and that the answer to reducing the plastic problem is to not use it. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done but taking small steps is better than no steps. But in finding alternatives does create a minefield of alternative problems. Her example was buying metal straws over plastic ones, she still had to use Amazon which has its own ruck of ethical problems and emission problems in transport. 

It's a headache, but you have to weigh your options. Until alternatives are more widely spread, you have to use what's available. 

On a more positive note, this project has rekindled her love of art. While there are no big projects on the horizon, Niamh is excited to continue promoting conservation through her art. Currently, she is experimenting with water colours, clown fish, and blue tangs. Check out her instagram! She is also participating in the Great British Spring Clean, a month long event run by Keep Britain Tidy starting today, with a litter pick around her village.

With only the finishing touches left to do on her EPQ, I had only one more, very important question to ask. What is the shark called? She'd put it to ballot. In the box, she found:

Sharkira.

Sharkille O'Neal

Sharky McSharkFace (with at least four votes)

Annnnnnddddd.....

Bruce! Landslide winner with eleven votes.

I guess all there is left to say is a massive well done to Niamh! You have every right to be proud of the work you've done here, and I hope it continues to make more positive waves. The world needs more Niamhs.

Listening to: This Is Selena Gomez