Thank You, But I Don’t Need Goggles (2022), 72”W x 48”H x 11”D, Wood, Metal, Resin, Oyster Shells & Trash
This piece is a collaborative work that my uncle, and sculptor, Michael Binkley, asked me to be a part of. He was asked by the Squamish Arts Council to be a part of a project called Diving In BC: The Art of Cleaning Lakes and Oceans.
Knowing that how humans impact the environment with trash is a big part of my art practice, he asked me to join him. Together, over the course of 7 weeks, we created this piece. It was fantastic to finally work with him on a project and I hope more will come.
To find out more about the project and its cause, check out Diving In BC.
To learn more about my uncle and his practice, check out michaelbinkley.com.
Artist Statement:
The Pacific Giant Octopus and Giant Kelp are indigenous to the waters of Howe Sound, BC, Canada. Both are the largest of their species. The artists do not know for certain if the trash from which they’ve made this artwork came from Howe Sound, or lakes in the Sea to Sky corridor, but Michael and Olivia decided to celebrate these two natives of the local ocean. The octopus is a highly intelligent creature, able to camouflage its skin’s colour and texture in the blink of an eye, is extremely dexterous, and having no skeleton, can fit into the tiniest of places. The artists have depicted this octopus swimming in giant kelp, near the bottom of the ocean.
The octopus is equipped to see clearly in its environment. It certainly does not need goggles, as humans do to see underwater. It also does not need golf balls, plastic oars, vape cartridges, or aluminum cans. These pieces of trash have been cast into the octopus’ environment by humans. Many believe that if they can no longer see it, it must have disappeared, but they do not compute how their actions negatively impact the environment.
Garbage does not disappear. It settles on the ocean floor. The octopus and other sea creatures ingest this trash, killing them. Michael and Olivia’s message is clear; Please become a responsible custodian of our planet and dispose of your garbage properly. On a boat? On a hike in the mountains? On the beach? Simple. Pack it in, pack it out!
Michael and Olivia were given aluminum cans, golf balls, vape cartridges, goggles, and plastic oars as materials for their art project. These were salvaged by the volunteer scuba divers of Diving In BC. Can you identify each item in the artists’ creation?