Washed Ashore: Zoo exhibit is a fun but informative look at the broad spectrum of plastic pollution

Until September 14, 2025, visitors attending the Calgary Zoo are able to explore a series of thought-provoking art exhibits currently on loan from the Washed Ashore non-profit organization. 

Fifteen sculptures, made entirely out of garbage found washed up on the beaches of Oregon, have been set up at different locations on the grounds of the Calgary Zoo . The art depicts wildlife from a diverse set of environments that are most severely affected by plastic pollution. 

Washed Ashore has created over 100 different sculptures using found garbage with a mission of sparking and engaging discussions surrounding the impacts of plastic pollution and unseen consequences of consumer habits.

Brad Parks, the conservation education director for Washed Ashore, accompanied the sculptures to the Calgary Zoo where they debuted on May 31. 

On display is a diverse set of both land and sea animals including Daisy the Polar Bear, Chompers the Shark to Rocky and the Northern Leopard Frog. Washed Ashore has given the sculptures whimsical names hoping onlookers identify with the animal depicted as advocates. While the goal of the art is to garner empathy for those animals who ingest and are entangled in plastic pollution, the overall aim is that a more somber message is conveyed to onlookers. 

Parks says, “Naming them and giving them some personality helps make this problem a little more approachable and gives people the chance to consider it [the environmental issue], and think about it when it’s often easier to ignore it.”

Parks describes the thought process behind the art and the pieces of garbage they choose specifically to be displayed on its outer layer, explaining that while the entirety of the sculptures are made with ocean pollution, the finishing touches are chosen to be recognizable to the average viewer.

Parks says that the recognition of everyday items is often where the exhibitions make an impression on the average visitor.

“People see things like a rice scoop that you would be serving rice with and go, ‘Well, how would that end up in the ocean?’”

Items that coat the exterior of the sculptures range from the expected beach toys and buoys to car parts and Crocs. Each sculpture holds a substantial amount of common materials that people that live inland and on the coast would recognize.

While most of Washed Ashore sculptures depict affected ocean wildlife, Parks says that persons who live on the coast region as well as regions inland are impressed by the exhibits. Despite comparable reactions, Parks notes that there is a greater need for inland inhabitants to experience the exhibits. 

“I think sometimes it takes a little more reflection and it isn’t easy for folks naturally inland to make that leap in,” says Parks.

He adds that people often only consider the ocean as polluted but not their local waterways, such as the Bow River.

Parks, a resident of Denver, provides an example of the impact and complexity plastic pollution has had on both coastal and inland environments. According to the U.S. National Park Service, The South Platte River flows through Denver then runs into the Mississippi River and discharges 16,792 cubic meters of water per second into the Gulf of Mexico that comes from a total of 31 different American states including two Canadian provinces. 

Examples like these are a big part of spreading awareness to those who may feel detached from issues related to ocean pollution due to their inland location. Parks notes that the ultimate goal is, “Trying to get all of these people who end up seeing our art to realize this isn’t someone else’s problem, this is a problem that all of us have a hand in.”

Fifteen Washed Ashore exhibits are on display in both indoor and outdoor locations at no extra charge once admitted into the zoo.