Be sure to keep scrolling for much more information!
Plastic Dress II, 2025
Art from Plastic
Just like I did for Plastic Dress I (see below) I spent a year collecting non-recyclable plastic that was doomed for the landfill. In addition, my husband and I collect trash from our streets and beaches that was added to this dress.
I create the "dresses" to raise awareness about the silent crisis of plastic in our clothing, and the greater plastic pollution problem. Fast Fashion contributes greatly to this disaster...our landfills are leeching plastic into the soil and waterways to the sea. Many communities burn their trash that is full of discarded clothing that contains plastic (see list below): think of polyester, nylon, and spandex. Our choices matter, so please Be Aware of What You Wear and choose renewable, sustainable clothing like cotton, flax, linen, hemp, and jute. And please reuse/repurpose your used clothing. You can make shopping bags out of old t-shirts, cleaning cloths out of underwear, shirts, jeans, etc. Donate responsibly to organizations that accept used clothes and cherish hand-me-downs!
Plastic Dress II was on display (rMarch 13, 2025 at the Hawai'i State Capital for Pilina Kanaloa, Ocean Day, with thanks to Representative Lauren Matsumoto for making this happen!
And Kudos to:
to the folks at Beyond Plastics for your great website and newsletter! I highly recommend following this amazing organization that offers information and resources for reducing plastic use and education!
Mahalo Nui Loa for your efforts!!
Summer, 2021
Hidden Plastic: Be Aware of What You Wear!!
Marianne Bickett, artist
Sherwood Center for the Arts "Those Who Teach" Art Exhibit
August 3 - October 4, 2021
A Video of the dress was featured on Instagram through @WoArtBlog in "My Story", a New York based Art Gallery. As of June, 2023, my lovely dress will be on permanent display at the New Seasons store in Tualatin, Oregon. If you're in the area...check it out! Thanks to New Seasons for encouraging shoppers to go plastic free!
Art as Process:
Although many years ago I created a simple vest out of non-recyclable plastics for an elementary art unit on repurposing plastic for art, this was my first attempt to create something more sophisticated.
The problem of plastic pollution is far underrated and one of unseen damage. We don’t see the plastic in our food, water, and in the air we breathe, but it's there. Microplastics are microscopic pieces of plastic that is in our water and soil…and in our clothing. When you wash clothing that is made from, for example, polyester, microplastics leak into the gray water when rinsing. I was horrified last year when I realized polyester is plastic. Now, when I purchase clothing, bedding, kitchen towels, etc, I always check to see what it made of, and I do not buy anything made with plastic. We need to make tough choices that are not easy and can lead us to rethinking the way we consume food and products. Something has to give. Clothing cannot be recycled and ends up, ultimately, in landfills. It can be reused and repurposed, though.
Plastic Pollution and Solutions
My dear friend, Rose Shank, cleaning up HukiLuau Beach on North Shore of Oahu with me in 2018. The amount of plastic on the beach and in the water was staggering. Little by little, we picked up what we could and then, with heavy hearts, we walked away. We never give up. Please be sure to scroll all the way down, thanks
Hold Manufacturers Responsible for Non Recyclable packaging
Contact companies and businesses that sell products in non recyclable packages and urge them to switch to compostable or paper bags/containers. Write legislators and urge them to pass bills holding manufacturers accountable for their plastic waste (Maine and Oregon just passed such laws).
Update Sept. 2, 2021:
Please read the following article about Terracycle, a company that greenwashes corporation's attempt to do nothing about the plastic they create (Thanks to Rose Shank for info).
Clean up around your neighborhoods
Going for a walk around the block? Grab your trash grabber or wear gloves to pick up trash in gutters and especially at drainage sites where plastic pieces often gather before they flow down into streams, rivers, and ultimately, the ocean. Participate in local creek and beach clean-ups. It's sad how much plastic is in our waterways and oceans.
Make informed Choices
Make informed Choices
Choose sustainably sourced products that do not contain plastic such as wood, cotton, bamboo, etc. See the fabric list below-left for more information. Limit the amount of meat you eat by including plant based protein alternatives. Become a living example of how to live well.
A word of caution:
Please consider non-animal sourced alternatives. Please consider not buying items and clothing made from leather, wool, fur, and feathers. Thank you!!
Photo Gallery
Recycling Truths
