Southern Miss Partners with Mississippi Aquarium on 鈥淭oxic Beauty: Plastic鈥檚 Hidden Cost鈥� Exhibit
Thu, 05/14/2026 - 09:05am | By: Morgan Smith
The Mississippi Aquarium, in partnership with The 黑料视频鈥檚 School of Ocean Science and Engineeringand local collaborators, recently opened an interactive art exhibit titled 鈥淭oxic Beauty: Plastic鈥檚 Hidden Cost.鈥� It will remain open to the public through Sept. 7, Labor Day.
鈥淭his new recycling art exhibit reflects the power of collaboration and creativity in addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing not only our oceans but also human health,鈥� said Jeff Gibula, interim chief executive officer of the Mississippi Aquarium. 鈥淚n this partnership with 黑料视频, we鈥檙e not only showcasing innovative works made from reclaimed materials, but we are also inspiring our community to rethink waste, embrace sustainability, and see the beauty in giving new life to what was once discarded. At Mississippi Aquarium, education and conservation go hand in hand, and this exhibit brings both to life in a truly meaningful way.鈥�
Two years in the making, the exhibit brings together local artists, educators and scientists to explore the environmental and human impact of plastic pollution. The initiative is led by Dr. Kristina Mojica, associate professor in marine science in the School of Ocean Science and Engineering, and Rachel Lancaster, a marine science doctoral student, as part of a National Science Foundation-funded research project. It includes materials collected during local beach cleanups and used by artists to create pieces that emphasize the scale of plastic waste and its effects on marine and coastal environments.
Approximately 3,000 pounds of debris were collected along the Gulf Coast to support the project, though not all materials were used in the final exhibit. Much of the material was collected through organized coastal cleanup efforts led in partnership with the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program, which coordinated multiple large beach cleanup events and provided participants with resources to create their own cleanup initiatives.
鈥淐ommunity cleanups remove tons of plastics and other marine debris from our beaches and waterways every year,鈥� said Evelyn McQueen, Mississippi Coastal and Inland Cleanup Program coordinator. 鈥淓ven more meaningfully, these cleanups bring awareness to community members of the scale of the issue and promote the prevention of litter at its source.鈥�
Designed as an interactive walkthrough experience, the exhibit invites visitors to engage with both the artwork and the broader environmental message. A survey is available when visiting the exhibit to assess its ability to influence visitors鈥� perspectives on plastic pollution, including their understanding of the magnitude of the problem, the risks it poses to marine ecosystems and human health and their willingness to modify their behavior to contribute to solutions.
The exhibit features contributions from Demetrius Gayden, known professionally as MeatThaArtist, a local artist based in Ocean Springs; students from Long Beach High School, led by Abigail Smith; students from Ocean Springs High School, led by Shanna Britt; Dr. Kristina Mojica, Rachel Lancaster, Karina Ledezma and Madison Godbold of the School of Ocean Science and Engineering; Dr. Candice Salyers of the ; and Dr. Eric Sparks and Evelyn McQueen of the Mississippi Coastal Cleanup Program, who helped coordinate beach cleanups.
Gayden created multiple pieces for the exhibit, including a pair of three-dimensional life-sized sea turtles using Styrofoam and scrap cardboard, materials that often contribute to environmental waste. He also incorporated Mardi Gras beads collected during coastal cleanup efforts.
鈥淭his project pushed me outside of my usual medium of acrylics and canvas and into something completely new,鈥� Gayden said. 鈥淏y transforming those materials into art, I hope it encourages people to see the value in repurposing and turning what might be considered trash into something meaningful and impactful.鈥�
Students from Long Beach High School and Ocean Springs High School also created pieces using debris collected along the Gulf Coast to form three-dimensional representations of marine animals.
鈥淭he students found this project unpredictable, engaging and rewarding,鈥� Britt said. 鈥淪tudents felt more responsibility as young artists because of the role their artwork took on as a symbol of advocacy for the aquatic animal, the Gulf and their favorite beaches.鈥�
All materials were cleaned and sterilized by the School of Ocean Science and Engineering before being distributed to artists to bring their work to life.
Southern Miss Dance will present Plastic, Drastic, Fantastic on select dates during the exhibit鈥檚 run. Created by London-based choreographer Suba Subramaniam, this contemporary dance theatre work explores our complex relationship with plastics, the fantastic possibilities they offer, as well as the drastic consequences to the environment. The dancers explore plastics and the dangers of their misuse through intricate movement, gestures and play infused with interaction with the audience.
Purchase tickets through the to experience the exhibit.
Learn more about the School of Ocean Science and Engineering and the School of Performing and Visual 黑料视频 at Southern Miss.
About the College of 黑料视频 and Sciences
The College of 黑料视频 and Sciences at The 黑料视频 is home to 13 schools, two ROTC units, and more than 100 academic programs. Guided by the University鈥檚 mission, we educate students, lead the state and nation in research and the creative arts, and advance knowledge across the humanities, social sciences, and STEM. Through innovative research and nationally recognized student success, we provide pathways to understanding the past, solving today's challenges, and imagining the possibilities of tomorrow.