December 15, 2021 7.00 am This story is over 27 months old

Lincoln Canoe Club create anti-plastic pollution artwork using items dumped in river

Getting creative to spread an important message
Lincoln Canoe Club members hosted a workshop to turn plastic pollution found in the city's river into art for an awareness message. | Photo: Lincoln Canoe Club
By Local Democracy Reporter

Lincoln Canoe Club members have turned their mission to remove plastic pollution from local waters into an art project thanks to support from The Collection Museum.

Over the last year, members of the club have supported the Surfers Against Sewage Million Mile Clean campaign, which encourages 100,000 people across the country to clean up their beaches and rivers for the good of the environment.

Through spring and autumn, Lincoln Canoe Club joined together to remove plastic pollution from local waters, and across the two events they removed 24 sacks of junk.

The club collected an impressive haul. | Photo: Lincoln Canoe Club

The junk collected included plastic bottles, cans, glass bottles, food packaging and even some unusual finds, such as a kids scooter, tea cup, Christmas baubles and an inflatable flamingo.

Club members decided they wanted to leave a lasting legacy of their work and create an art project that highlights the issue of plastic pollution in rivers.

Photographs of the sculptures will be up in the Usher Gallery, like this one of Amanda’s. | Photo: Lincoln Canoe Club

Inspired by Mandy Barker’s current exhibition ‘Our Plastic Ocean‘, held at the Collection Museum in Lincoln from October 23 to December 19 this year, the club contacted The Collection and were offered the chance to work on something.

Anthony’s inventive sculpture, using plastic to create flowers. | Photo: Lincoln Canoe Club

With the help of artist Nadya Monfronoli, creator of the ‘Plastic Fantastic’ art installation at Doddington Hall, Lincoln Canoe Club designed sculptures to be photographed for use in the studio set up in the Clore at the Usher Gallery.

Emily T thought outside the box! | Photo: Lincoln Canoe Club

The photographs of these sculptures, created during a workshop on December 11, will also be displayed at the club to remember their work and keep spreading the message.

Chantelle’s sculpture, which shows the bottles dangling in the air. | Photo: Lincoln Canoe Club

Chantelle Grundy, Clear Access Clear Waters Champion at Lincoln Canoe Club, said: “Club members have literally removed hundreds of single use bottles from our waters and have been keen to highlight the issue of plastic pollution to a wider audience.

“Lincoln Canoe Club is absolutely delighted to be supported by The Collection and local Artist Nadya Monfrinoli to work with our junior members to create and photograph bespoke art installations to highlight the issue.”

Alice put an artistic twist on these Lucozade bottles. | Photo: Lincoln Canoe Club

Artist Nadya Monfronoli added: “It has been wonderful to see families working together to create some truly beautiful imagery from all of this waste material.

“The artworks will raise awareness of the problem of plastic pollution and the hard work that the Lincoln Canoe Club puts in to keeping the waterways clean for all of us.”

Imogen meshed a lot of the club’s plastic findings together into one art piece. | Photo: Lincoln Canoe Club

Jenny Gleadell, from The Collection and Usher Gallery, said: “This has been a fantastic opportunity to work with Lincoln Canoe Club in response to Mandy Barker’s ‘Our Plastic Ocean’.

“We are really keen to support local, relevant and creative responses to this amazing exhibition.”

Last but not lease he was Ilva’s creation. | Photo: Lincoln Canoe Club