Coastal Cleanup — 3 locations

2015–2016
Trash collected in the wetlands along South San Francisco Bay
Metal wire, wood
Dimensions variable (approx. 72” × 54” × 19” to 120” × 19” × 72”)

Coastal Cleanup is composed entirely of litter collected in the wetlands of Sunnyvale, gathered during cleanup efforts with the support of the Environmental Services Department. The installation brings into view what is often overlooked: the accumulation of waste embedded in a fragile ecosystem.

Along the bay’s shores, the landscape appears pristine at first glance. But stepping off the path reveals a different reality—plastic bottles, straws, styrofoam, glass, toys, and countless fragments of daily consumption scattered throughout the wetlands. Most of these materials do not biodegrade, persisting in the environment and disrupting natural processes.

This work reflects an ongoing engagement with water systems, pollution, and public awareness. Living near the bay, I became increasingly involved in understanding this ecosystem—through cleanups, visits to water treatment facilities, and educational projects with students focused on watersheds, water cycles, and ocean pollution.

By gathering and reassembling this debris, Coastal Cleanup transforms a small portion of collected waste into a visible, concentrated form. It invites reflection on the scale of the issue and on our relationship to the environments we inhabit and impact.

Places where the installation was exhibited:

Santa Clara Valley Water District, San Jose, CA

Installation on view from April 2017 – present
Headquarters Building: 5700 Almaden Expressway
San José, CA 95118-3686

Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Environmental Education Center, San Jose, CA

Installation on view from July 2016 to April 2017

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Free Family Workshop – Saturday, October 1st, 2016
BAY DAY Litter Poster Making
Environmental Education Center, Alviso
10:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Using paper cuts, found plastic debris, and photography, create a poster (or more!) about how to protect our watershed, including our bay, a rich, unique, and fragile ecosystem. This hands-on workshop is led by Michele Guieu, who is exhibiting her installation “Coastal Clean Up” at the Education Center for the summer. Please bring your smartphone and/or tablet, and download the free PicCollage app before coming. Thank you! Age 7 and up, please. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. Go to: http://baydaylitter.eventbrite.com Questions? Julie: 408-262-5513 ext.104

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Plastic trash is hidden in the marshland along the San Francisco Bay

Sunnyvale Public Library, Sunnyvale, CA

Installation on view from March to June 2016

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Free Family workshop in relation to the installation, April 26, 2016
Protecting the Watershed – Poster Making with tablets
Sunnyvale Library – April 26, from 6 to 8pm

With Michele Guieu, Visual Artist and Art Educator Specialist and Jackie Davison, Environmental Outreach Coordinator at the Environmental Services Department in Sunnyvale. Using paper cuts, found plastic debris, and photography, create a poster (or more!) about how to protect our watershed, including our bay, a rich, unique, and fragile ecosystem. This hands-on workshop is led by Michele Guieu, who is exhibiting her installation “Coastal Clean Up” at the library during April, and by Jackie Davison, who will be demonstrating the consequences of human activities on our watershed using an enviroscape.
Please bring your smartphone and/or tablet. For participants with an iPad or iPhone, please download the free PicCollage app before coming. Thank you!
Age 7 and up