SARAH TUCKER | Marine Debris & Recycled Materials Artist
Turning Shoreline Waste into Powerful Learning Experiences
Sarah Tucker brings marine debris art into the classroom, showing students how man-made objects collected from local shorelines can be transformed into wall art, sculpture, mobiles, or wearable pieces. Living in Port Angeles since 1999, Sarah draws directly from the Olympic Peninsula environment, guiding students to explore creativity, responsibility, and environmental awareness through hands-on artmaking. With a decades-long, self-taught background in mixed media, costuming, painting, and performance, Sarah blends visual storytelling with collaboration and open dialogue. Her projects are adaptable, engaging, and designed for classrooms of all sizes — making them a strong fit for public schools looking to connect creativity with environmental stewardship.
GRADE LEVELS
Pairs well with Grades K–12 (elementary, middle school, and high school), including after-school programs.
ART FORMS
Visual Arts • Sculpture • Mixed Media • Wearable Art • Recycled Materials Art
ARTS INTEGRATION & CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS
Sarah’s programs support Washington State Learning Standards by integrating visual arts with environmental and social learning:
Visual Arts Standards (VA):
Students develop skills in creative problem-solving, design, craftsmanship, and working with nontraditional materials (VA:Cr1–Cr3).
English Language Arts (ELA):
Opportunities for descriptive language, oral presentation, reflection, and group discussion about artistic process and meaning (ELA: SL, W).
Science (NGSS):
Connections to environmental science, marine ecosystems, human impact, and sustainability through the study and reuse of marine debris (NGSS: ESS3).
Social Studies:
Exploration of community responsibility, environmental stewardship, and the cultural meaning of objects we discard.
PAIRS WELL WITH
- Environmental science and marine ecosystem units
- Sustainability and human impact studies
- Creative expression and visual storytelling projects
- STEAM explorations using found materials
- School-wide sustainability initiatives or Earth Day events
WHY TEACHERS CHOOSE SARAH
- Uses real-world materials collected from local shorelines
- Encourages dialogue about environmental responsibility
- Flexible structure fits single sessions or multi-day residencies
- Students collaborate, problem-solve, and build confidence through artmaking
- Creates striking, display-worthy work for classrooms and community spaces
SARAH TUCKER'S PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
Marine Debris Crown Class
Students begin with a provided wire crown base and explore rope wrapping as a foundation. Crowns are decorated with colorful plastic “jewels” collected from local shorelines, each pre-drilled for easy wire application. The session concludes with a joyful crown fashion show.
Minimum: 1 class period.
Marine Debris Art
Students work individually or collaboratively to create 2D artwork, sculpture, mobiles, or wearable art using provided marine debris. Low-temperature glue guns, wire, and wire cutters are used with guidance, followed by a group share of completed work.
Minimum: 1 class period.
Group Marine Debris Sculpture
Students collaborate to create a large-scale group sculpture using marine debris. Prior to the session, students select debris items and a shared theme. A repurposed sculptural base is provided, and students work in small groups to build their section of the piece.
Minimum: 1 class period.
