Hope in the Undertow
P.S. Creel
2025
Mixed-media, paper, yarn, found plastics and glass
P.S. Creel is a sculptural artist who focuses on 3-D pieces made from varying materials like yarn, metal, and paper. They hope to open an art gallery one day and exhibit their own and fellow artists’ work. They’ve always had a fascination with the environment and the beauty of nature.
Hope in the Undertow explores the intersection of environmental conservation and artistic expression, using found materials to illuminate pressing ecological issues while inspiring hope for change. For this piece, I have created a 1.5 x 2-foot mosaic composed of plastics and glass collected from Casco Bay’s shores, merging waste with artistry to depict an underwater eelgrass habitat. The scene features two crocheted bluefish, a horseshoe crab, an urchin, and a blue crab, set against a textured background of reclaimed plastic and glass. The eelgrass itself is rendered in contrasting states—some strands vibrant and healthy, others gray and frayed—symbolizing both the resilience and fragility of this vital ecosystem.
Eelgrass beds are the lifeblood of Maine’s coastal waters, nurturing marine species, stabilizing shorelines, and sequestering carbon. Yet they face mounting threats from pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. By transforming discarded debris into art, I highlight the urgent need for conservation while demonstrating the potential for renewal. This piece is not just a warning but a testament to what preservation can achieve—a call to action grounded in hope.
Through this work, I invite viewers to confront humanity’s impact while fostering a deeper connection to marine ecosystems. It is both a celebration of Casco Bay’s biodiversity and a plea to protect it. By merging education with visual storytelling, this project aims to inspire greater public involvement in protecting Maine’s underwater meadows before it’s too late.
Twenty young artists created art centered on the challenges, hopes, and fears for Casco Bay’s past, present, and future.
What happens when a group of young artists turn their talents toward protecting Casco Bay? A new collaboration with MECA&D brought powerful, creative answers.
