TImages of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill will hang, surrounded by live animals, around the Aquarium of the Pacific’s walls in the Aquarium’s first art photography exhibit, representing efforts to illuminate science through art.
Starting at 7 p.m. Oct. 13, the photographer, Daniel Beltrá, will speak at a joint public lecture at the Aquarium with Dr. Larry McKinney, director of the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University.
The lecture is part of an The Aquarium of the Pacific art exhibit featuring aerial photos that capture the aftermath of the April 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Photographer Daniel Beltrá shot the photos during May and June 2010 on assignment for Greenpeace off the coast of Louisiana. An exhibit featuring Beltrá’s work, SPILL: Images from the Gulf, will be on display at the Aquarium in Long Beach from October 13, 2011, through January 15, 2012.
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Over the course of three months, approximately 4.9 million barrels of crude oil (205.8 million gallons) were released into the Gulf waters. The Deepwater Horizon wellhead was eventually capped on July 15, 2010. Beltrá’s aerial images depict the accident site, relief well drilling platforms, controlled burns, boats and skimmer ships that were brought in to monitor and assist in the containment efforts, planes dropping dispersant, and brown pelicans covered in oil. The captions that accompany the images tell the story of the spill and its aftermath as well as some of the impacts that have been observed on animals, plants, and economies. Beltrá’s photographs remind viewers of the consequences of the spill and the need to find sustainable solutions to the problems associated with the use of fossil fuels.
Tickets for the lecture are $5 per person or free for teachers, students, seniors (age 62+), and Aquarium members with valid ID and advance reservations by calling 562-590-3100.