Elaine Alder ties ropes for the large whale sculpture in a grassy area near historic buildings in New Bedford/ New Bedford Whaling Museum

In 2020, the National Park Service teamed up with NOAA's Marine Debris Program in a five-year plan to bring public attention to the growing problem of marine debris. Outreach and education is a large part of that program. To that end, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park will be installing a new sculpture made entirely of marine debris collected off the coast of Massachusetts. 

The Water We’re Swimming In, a sculpture created by artist Elaine Alder made of marine debris collected off the coast of Massachusetts, will be unveiled on September 22, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Captain Paul Cuffe Park, located on the corner of Johnny Cake Hill and Union Street, part of the New Bedford Whaling Museum campus. 

"We are grateful to partners NOAA and the New Bedford Whaling Museum for helping the park highlight the global issue of marine debris on our shores, particularly here in Massachusetts,” said Jennifer Smith, superintendent of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park. “As a national park that tells the story of the 19th century whaling industry, adjacent to a 21st commercial fishing port, this sculpture will help our community focus on the impacts of marine debris and the role humans play in protecting ocean ecosystems. Alder’s exquisite sculpture will create awareness about the threat of marine debris and hopefully inspire people to be stewards of conservation.”

“The exhibit represents a partnership between agencies, organizations and artists dedicated to conservation of coastal and marine environments," said Demi Fox, Northeast regional coordinator for the NOAA Marine Debris Program. "We hope that it encourages visitors to reflect on ways they can prevent marine debris in their everyday lives.”

Art that educates about marine pollution isn't new for the parks. Back in 2011, Pt. Reyes National Seashore, in California, unveiled a sculpture series of giant plastic bottles filled with trash collected from the park's beaches by an artist volunteer. 

Lindsay Compton, the park’s Artist-in-Residence program coordinator, prepared the proposal soliciting a national artist for the project. Alder, a multi-disciplinary artist, submitted a proposal for a sculpture of whales, breeching and playing in the water. 

“Elaine’s proposal brought a vibrant and hopeful lens to the challenge of marine pollution. Through their art, we envision a future where healthy North Atlantic right whales symbolize our collective commitment to a cleaner ocean and a more optimistic approach to tackling the preventable issue of marine debris,” said Compton. 

“The Whaling Museum and our Captain Paul Cuffe Advisory Group are grateful to the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park who saw Captain Cuffe’s legacy, and the park dedicated in his name and honor, as a strong foundation for inviting visitors to examine complex topics that are shaped by our past, remain critical today, and inform a sustainable future. This exhibit will remain in place for three years, highlighting the importance of collaboration and our collective responsibility to protect the marine environment from the threats of marine debris,” said Amanda McMullen, president of the New Bedford Whaling Museum.