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Trash Whale Art: Oceans of Plastic Become Giant Sculpture
27 Oct
Summary
- A 82-foot whale sculpture made of 5,000 pounds of plastic waste stands tall.
- Ethyl the Whale, a record-setting artwork, highlights marine pollution issues.
- The sculpture was moved to New Mexico after being created in California.
An immense 82-foot sculpture, "Ethyl the Whale," crafted from roughly 5,000 pounds of single-use plastic waste, is currently captivating global attention on the Santa Fe Community College campus. Created in 2018 by artists Joel Dean Stockdill and Yustina Salnikova, this record-holding recycled plastic artwork serves as a stark visual commentary on the pervasive issue of ocean pollution.
The project originated from a request by the Monterey Bay Aquarium to visually represent the problem of marine pollution. The artists meticulously constructed Ethyl to the exact dimensions of a full-sized blue whale, using melted and reshaped plastic panels. As of 2026, the sculpture has been recognized as a Roadside America Sight of the Week, further amplifying its environmental advocacy.
After its initial display in the San Francisco Bay Area, the sculpture was acquired by arts collective Meow Wolf and subsequently donated to Santa Fe Community College in 2019. The artwork underwent a complex disassembly and reassembly process to establish its permanent home in New Mexico, becoming an outdoor learning exhibit and a local landmark.
Ethyl the Whale's presence in the high desert of New Mexico creates a poignant contrast, highlighting that plastic pollution's impact transcends geographical boundaries. The sculpture continues to inspire environmental awareness and serves as a testament to transforming waste into impactful public art.
