The Rise Above Plastics Cape, 2019

The Rise Above Plastics Cape was created in collaboration with the Portland Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. It was made over the course of 2019 at public workshops where members of the public used a needle to thread straws onto a string that Nancy then attached to the Cape. The workshops took place at:

• The Oregon Capital in conjunction with the Rise Above Plastics Day at the legislature, during the day 300 students learned about the problems with plastics in the ocean, took a pledge to stop using single use plastics and then helped string the straws for the cape.
• Screening of the film RiverBlue hosted by the Portland Chapter of Surfrider, where Nancy also served on a panel that explored the social and environmental impacts of our clothing.
• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry – “Nights at the Museum”
• World Rivers Day at the Oregon Zoo
• Oregon Museum of Science and Industry – “Science Pub Series”

The Cape was created to inspire people to eliminate or reduce single-use plastics such as straws, cutlery, to-go containers/cup tops, and condiment packets. Please consider taking a pledge to reduce single use plastics in your life here.

The straws were donated to the project by the Portland Convention Center and Vibrant Table Catering. Many food service businesses were left with a huge stock of straws after committing to offer straws only upon request as part of Portland, Oregon’s Single-use plastics reduction policy.

This project is supported in part by a project grant from the Portland Regional Arts & Culture Council.