Plastic Fantastic Lovers

Almost exactly 15 years ago, I published a story in Smithsonian about a remarkable artist couple I’d encountered at an event in Berkeley, California. Richard Lang and Judith Selby had their first date on Kehoe Beach, at the Point Reyes National Seashore. They quickly discovered that, for the past three years, they’d independently been collecting washed-up bits of plastic to use in their work. (Talk about a match made in heaven!) They became collaborators, and these found plastic parts – which include everything from toy soldiers to tampon applicators — became the raw material for beautiful jewelry and provocative photographs.

Judith and Richard found a way to transform garbage into art, all while raising awareness about an increasing peril: plastic pollution.

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