Carolyn Henne uses her skills as an artist to improve the environment and grow oysters. Henne has been sculpting for many years but decided to use her talents for more than visual appeal. In early 2020, marine ecologist Dr. Niels Lindquist and oysterman Clammerhead (David) Cessna developed a proprietary biodegradable hardscape that Henne began sculpting. She adapts the medium to create aquaculture art on an intertidal sandbar in the Newport River.
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The plan is for oysters and other marine life to turn the sculpture into a reef. The test sculpture was “Star,” a lone swimmer. The second sculpture of the project is “Sea Stars,” consisting of 15 synchronized swimmers and one giant octopus. So far, the project has been successful, and oysters are already claiming the swimmers as their homes.
Learn more about Carolyn Henne and her art at carolynhenne.com.
