2018
Participatory public space activation
Fountain Alley, Downtown San Jose, CA

Presented by Alliance for Youth Achievement
Supported by the California Arts Council and the San Jose Downtown Association
With collaborating artists Corinne Takara and Lauren Cage

The Ocean is Calling is a series of participatory evening events inviting the public to engage with the ocean as a vital, fragile, and largely unseen world. Through play, light, and collective interaction, the project brings attention to marine ecosystems and the threats they face.

Centered around a large illuminated shadow theater, the installation encourages visitors to create and manipulate ocean-themed shapes, perform on stage, or observe the evolving underwater environment. Additional activities include puppet-making workshops and interactive stations, with youth participants helping activate the space and guide engagement.

The project unfolded over a series of themed evenings, each focusing on a different aspect of ocean life and crisis:

• Plankton
• Extinct Species
• Coral Reefs
• Plastic Pollution

(Some events were canceled due to regional wildfires.)

Blending art and science, the installation highlights both the richness of marine life and the scale of its disruption—from microscopic plankton that sustain life on Earth to the accelerating loss of large marine species. The work creates space for reflection, dialogue, and shared awareness, inviting participants to consider their relationship to the ocean and their role within it.

See The Ocean is Calling Overview here.

Awesome Plankton

Extint Species