First Fridays: 643 Project Space hosts reception for CSUCI Marine Debris Art Project.

A long-standing, interdisciplinary relationship between CSUCI’s Art Department and Santa Rosa Island Research Stationgives new life to marine debris collected from the Channel Islands. As part of a three-year project between the Research Station and NOAA, seven remote beaches within the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary are cleared of marine debris twice a year and data is collected to further research and conservation of the Channel Islands.  Back at the university professors like Professor of Art and Sculpture Matthew Furmanski challenge their students to incorporate the marine debris into their own art. 

In 2019, inspired by the art created by students, SRIRS hosted their first Marine Debris Art Show virtually.  This year the now annual show was held last weekend at MadeWest Brewing Company and included artwork from CSUCI student artists as well as local youth artists from Vita Arts Center in downtown Ventura. 

The thought-provoking art will continue to inspire the Ventura County community throughout the month of October as Furmanski Studios has opened their 643 Project Space Gallery to share the unique marine debris art.

A reception for the exhibit, is planned for Friday, October 7th during Ventura’s First Fridays where the art can be viewed and purchased (all sales are between purchaser and artists, who take 100% of the sale).