PCC Sylvania is hosting a spectacular art exhibit made of the plastic that is polluting our oceans. "Washed Ashore" is a collection of giant sculptures of the sea creatures most threatened by discarded plastics in the ocean.  The Skanner News Video: Washed Ashore

Sponsored by the Artula Institute, hundreds of volunteers and school children have helped create these sculptures, including a sea turtle, giant fish, jellyfish, coral, squid and even a whale skeleton – all made of plastic garbage collected from the Oregon coast.

"Pelicans eat lids and lighters and are dying of starvation," said the project's director and lead artist Angela Haseltine Pozzi of Bandon. "Fish eat plastic pieces and are getting poisoned. Sea turtles devour plastic bags thinking they are jellyfish. Seals are being choked by plastic rings. Our beaches are being littered by garbage."

The exhibit will be open to the public from 3 to 7 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday and Saturday, April 20 through June 10 at the Sylvania Campus, 12000 S.W. 49th Ave. The large-scale pieces will be outside near the campus' Performing Arts Center. Organizers will welcome field trips from area schools on Fridays during the exhibit.

The exhibit opens Wednesday, April 20, with a grand celebration from noon to 4pm. A gala benefit to support the Artula Institute will be held from 7 to 10 p.m., Friday, May 20 in the Performing Arts Center, Sylvania Campus. The event will include live music, food and a silent auction. The public is invited to attend. More information at: http://www.washedashore.org/ or www.pcc.edu/about/sustainability.