The artist this week is Mandy Barker.  She combines art and science to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the world’s oceans.  “The aim of my work is to engage with and stimulate an emotional response in the viewer by combining a contradiction between initial aesthetic attraction along with the subsequent message of awareness. The research process is a vital part of my development as the images I make are based on scientific fact… I hope it will ultimately lead to positive action in tackling this increasing environmental problem, which is currently of global concern”.

Not all plastics are easily recyclable PVC, Polystyrene (which include plastic toys) and the category “other” (which include nylon fabric, compact disks, storage containers and water cooler bottles) are not.  Throughout the world most plastic items don’t get recycled, many of them end up in our oceans and at times in unusual ways, which Barker shows in her ink cartridge piece below. The cartridges fell off a ship 5 years ago and are now washing up on shore all along the European coast.  Another example is her piece (Cancer) that follows the plastic trash from the 2012 Tsunami that hit Japan and is floating towards Hawaii. These larger plastics items through time become microplastics and are now being found in microscopic ocean animals, shellfish and fish.  Which are also seen below taken out of a turtle’ stomach( Aquarius) and a bird’s nest(Aries).

Plastic is important and useful for medical and industrial use, and globally we are getting better at recycling plastics. But a better way of reducing plastics now is to stop using them in our everyday life.  Use cloth bags for everything, ask restaurants or grocery markets you visit not to use Styrofoam, and try to buy clothes that are made of 100% natural fibers.  Even doing just one of these things will help lower your plastic consumption and disposal. Just think of it this way – That plastic you don’t buy- you literally won’t be ingesting it in your food source later.

P.S.  Remember signs with an * it a big week for you.

Aries

Ace of Cups – The Ace of Cups calls for you to create and spread love and joy.   This card reminds you that positive emotions need to be your “go to” this week even if someone pokes you to get a rise.  Your mottos:  You catch more flies with honey than vinegar, and Love conquers all.

Taurus

Two of Cups – This week relationships are in the forefront with the Two of Cups.  Take time to put energy in and share intimacies with your closest relationships.  Your cup becomes fuller the more you fill other’s cups.
Continue reading Tarot-cast for March 3, 2019 →