Local eco sculptor Glenn Martin has created another ‘trash masterpiece’ that will be showcased at the upcoming Trash Tow event in Bournemouth next month.
Percy the Plesiosaur was created using rope, netting, and plastics from Island beaches and took Glenn – from Whitwell – months to make.
Eco-artist Glenn has been making and dismantling things for nearly all of his life and has a University Degree in Design to boot. Some of his works have been showcased across the Island at numerous events and schools including the Isle of Wight Festival.
The latest project, Percy, will be used to highlight the issues surrounding plastic pollution at the event along the coast in Dorset next month when she will be towed by Dorset man Oly Rush on 29th July.
Glen met Oly Rush – who swam around the Island in 2020 breaking the world record – at an event called Vitamin Sea at Quay Arts where they shared their mutual interests in each other’s projects. Oly spearheads a beach cleaning group down in Bournemouth.
Speaking to Island Echo, Glenn said:
“Earlier this year Oly asked me if I could make him something he could swim and Tow as part of an awareness event.
“Making floating sculpture is on my creative bucket list so I jumped at the chance. I have always made sculpture that has many challenges to overcome, always from recycled and reclaimed materials.”
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Last year Glenn produced a 14ft high Ammonite sculpture from ghost rigging and plastics collected from local beaches across the Island. The piece contained about 8000 plastic bottles and featured in Sandown illuminated carnival. It is now on display at The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary in Sandown.
A keen fossil hunter, Glenn decided to adopt a similar technique when building his latest project based on a Plesiosaur, an extinct marine reptile from the Jurassic period.
Glenn told Island Echo:
“It’s all about capturing the imagination of the younger generation so they have a better understanding of cause and effect and how our existence effects the natural world.”
Percy will be towed by Oly between Boscombe and Bournemouth Piers back and forth for a total of 12 hours. Glenn will be there to cheer the pair on.
Glenn, Oly and Percy will be at Focus festival at The Wildheart Animal Sanctuary this Saturday (1st July) where ‘Percy’ will be on display. Oly with then be taking it back to Bournemouth to practice with.
Look like a load of rubbish
The Haywain is not the only piece of art in the world. Remove the blinkers and get the cataracts treated
Dont get it do you?