What Do You Treasure?
Triton Museum of Art
May 3 - August 3, 2025
1505 Warburton Ave, Santa Clara, CA
Opening Reception Saturday May 17 2-4 pm
Artist Talk Saturday June 21 1-2 pm
Triton Talk Saturday July 21 1-2 pm
Reducing Your Plastic Footprint and Why You Should Do So
Moderated Panel Discussion with Dr. Desiree LaBeaud and Journalist Matt Simon
What Do You Treasure? emerged from my reflections on our paradoxical relationship with nature. We revere the ocean and its life, yet contribute to its degradation through rampant plastic consumption.
The paintings and drawings lining the walls of the exhibit evoke the ocean’s sublime power. Many incorporate genuine gold, a symbol of reverence and contemplation. The sculptures interspersed throughout the space disrupt this serenity. Made from plastic waste and gilded in gold, they each tell a story about plastic pollution. At the same time they serve as objects of reflection, mimicking sacred artifacts yet exposing the false idol of consumerism.
This exhibition invites you to examine this contradiction and reconsider the choices we make daily.
Gallery of Paintings and Drawings
Gallery of Plastic Sculptures
WISHCYCLING
23 Kt gold leafed plastic waste, blue plastic recycling bin
Wishcycling is when people put things in the recycling bin that they hope will be recycled. Just because something has the chasing arrows symbol doesn’t mean it can or will be recycled. None of the containers in this artwork are typically recycled— #5 (yogurt tub), #6 (sushi trays), #7 plastic (Florida’s Natural orange juice) and a Starbucks cup (layered paper and plastic—not recyclable or compostable).
COKE OR PEPSI?
23 Kt Gold Leafed Coca-Cola bottles, silver/platinum leafed Pepsi bottles, glass aquarium
Coca-Cola wins the gold and Pepsi takes the silver as the two leading plastic polluters in the world.
WHOLE PLASTICS
23 Kt gold leafed food packaging, shopping basket
Grocery stores are filled with plastic containers. Whole Foods brands itself as a store for healthy eating, yet their stores are filled with plastic. The items in this artwork were all purchased at Whole Foods—popcorn, orange juice, half and half, dried fruit, dishwashing soap, tofu, nuts. None of these items were available without plastic packaging, leaving customers with no plastic-free choices.
FOREVER PEANUTS
23 Kt gold leafed styrofoam peanuts, vintage Japanese aquarium
Styrofoam peanuts are not biodegradable or recyclable, and can last in the environment for hundreds of years. Because these are small, lightweight, and float, they can be easily mistaken for food by marine life. Hopefully one day they will be a relic of the past.
BIRDS OF PLASTIC
23 Kt gold leafed plastic film and labels, styrofoam
With Guest Artist Marina Stevens
It is estimated that over a million seabirds die each year from eating plastic. Plastic waste floating in the ocean is mistaken for food, and becomes permanently lodged in the birds’ stomachs, causing damage and making it hard for them to get enough nutrition.
2050
23 Kt Gold leafed plastic bottle, vintage fish bowl
2050 is the year that we will have more plastic than fish in our oceans if we don’t cut back our plastic use
THE ALTAR OF CONVENIENCE
23 Kt Gold leafed plastic drink bottles, Starbucks cups, tea bags, condiment containers, LED candles, wood altar
One might say our society worships its conveniences, yet this may have surprising consequences for our health. Items on this altar are common sources of microplastics in our diets. Plastic drink bottles can contain hundreds of small plastic particles. Disposable coffee cups have plastic liners which can shed trillions of nano plastics into the drink. Some tea bags are made of plastic or contain plastic glue, and leach billions of nano plastics. These small plastics are being found lodged in our brains, lungs, intestines and even the placenta.
GRAB-N-GO
23 Kt gold leafed non-recyclable single-use food items, wood and plexiglass counter case
Most people would be surprised to learn that none of the common plastic containers in this case are generally recycled. The take-out containers are #5 plastic which is almost never recycled in the US. The coffee bag, food wrappers and utensils are not recyclable or compostable. They will end up in landfills, incinerators, and the ocean.
THE NEW COAL
23 Kt Gold Leafed plastic water bottles, vintage coal scuttle
Plastic is made from fossil fuels, and the US is in the process of bringing 42 new plastic refineries online. According to the oil industry’s own greenhouse gas emissions data, this is like adding 27 new coal plants. Most of these plastic refineries are situated near low income communities, like the notorious Cancer Alley in Louisiana. Plastic is becoming the new coal.
PLASTIC PHARMACY
23 Kt gold leafed medical and personal care items, vintage pharmacy cabinet
Most medications and personal care products come in single-use plastic packaging. Much of this packaging could be replaced with paper or re-usable containers.
CRYSTAL GEYSER COLLECTION
23 Kt gold leafed plastic Crystal Geyser water bottles, aquarium
Crystal Geyser happened to be the most common brand of plastic water bottles I found as litter. Less than 6% of our plastic waste is recycled in the US. The remainder goes to landfills or incineration, where it emits greenhouse gases and other toxic emissions. And of course, many end up in the ocean.