MEMBERS of the public can help kick start a new photography project at Oriel y Parc Gallery and Visitor Centre in St Davids by collecting plastic that has

Plastic Sea: Mike Perry

washed up on Pembrokeshire’s beaches.

North Pembrokeshire photographic artist Mike Perry will be using pieces of collected plastic to develop his series Môr Plastig (Welsh for ‘plastic sea’) in his role as Coastal Currents Artist in Residence at Oriel y Parc.

Môr Plastig focuses on images of washed-up, decayed items of plastic beach objects, including shoes, bottles and bags.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority Arts Development Officer Kate Wood, said: “During his residency, Mike will be reaching out of the confines of the studio space to engage members of the public in the creation of a new work that responds to and engages with our coastal environment. His residency will also draw connections with the current exhibition Natural Images – Historic Photography Uncovered,which is on display in the main gallery at Oriel y Parc.”

People can get involved by joining community beach cleans at four locations on Sunday February 1. Mike is looking for items of plastic that look interesting and that may have a story.

He will be picking up collected plastic at Freshwater East at 1pm, Freshwater West at 2pm, West Dale at 3pm and Newgale at 4pm. Alternatively, people can bring their plastic finds to Oriel y Parc by 4pm on Sunday February 1.

Those taking part should take care when picking up the plastic. They should wear protective gloves, ignore glass, medical objects or nasty looking chemicals and never take risks over slippery rocks. They should also watch out for fast moving tides.

The collected plastic will be taken to Oriel y Parc and selected pieces will be photographed by Mike, and displayed in an exhibition in the studio commencing March 13.

Mike added: “It’s hard to study our coastline today without being aware of plastic pollution. My art involves collecting and photographing pieces of plastic that have been shaped by the sea. They are landscapes, but micro landscapes that people might walk past without noticing nature’s sublime power inscribing itself on the man-made.”

Mike Perry’s Coastal Currents residency, which runs until March 31, is supported by the Arts Council of Wales, Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.