Mary Ellen Croteau

1. Close (2011) – plastic bottle caps and lids on Masonite; 96 x 84 in.

2. Quinn (2015) – plastic bottle caps on foamboard; 27 x 38 in.

3. Larry (2015) – plastic bottle caps on foamboard; 28 x 38 in.

4. Paul (2016) – plastic caps and lids on Masonite; 96 x 72 in.

5. Wildfire, Alberta (2016) – plastic bottle caps and lids on Masonite; 54 x 96 in.

6. Flood, Atlanta (2017) – water bottle and other plastic caps on Masonite; 60 x 96 in.

7. Melting Glacier, Greenland (2016) – water bottle and other plastic caps on Masonite; 54 x 96 in.

8. Tsunami (2014) – water bottle and other plastic caps on Masonite; 60 x 96 in.

Mary Ellen Croteau (1950-2019)

“The explosion in the use of plastic on this fragile planet in the last few decades frightens me. It is made from petroleum, so basically, we go to war, kill people, to have more bags and bottles to throw away.

My work with plastic is intended to make this waste visible and make the connection between our throw-away culture and our responsibility to the earth. Single-serve plastic bottles are the worst of the worst and should be assiduously avoided. Excessive packaging comes next. We need to rethink our needs and our desires if we are going to save this planet.”

artist’s website

© Mary Ellen Croteau