Washashore Art

One clever way to clean up a beach is to collect trash and turn it into art. That’s what artist and art teacher Wendy Shalen did, using found floating debris from beaches on the Vineyard, Long Island and Florida as subject matter for her handmade paper seascapes. The series is called Washed Ashore, and was recently exhibited at the Pound Ridge Library in New York.

The images show the closeness of nature and material culture. Garbage can be collected on some beaches as easily as drift wood.

Ms. Shalen is delivering a lecture on August 9 from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Old Sculpin Gallery, located on Dock street in Edgartown. The cost is $10 for Martha’s Vineyard Art Association members and $15 for nonmembers.

For more information, call the gallery at 508-627-4881.

The series is also on display on Ms. Shalen’s website, wendyshalen.com.