To kick off Ocean Week 2019, Environmental Artist Mara G. Haseltine will be launching her newest breakthrough in innovative eco-friendly Reef Design, The Rococo Cocco Reef.
The Rococo Cocco Reef is multi-dimensional, a living artwork, educational tool, eco-touristic dive site, habitat for fish and coral to thrive, a reef break, and carbon sink that attenuates waves protecting shorelines endangered by rising sea levels due to climate change. It will be created utilizing substrates composed of minerals found in coral reefs that coral larvae are naturally attracted to using primarily different forms of calcium carbonate, therefore making it the perfect marriage between design and function.
“The Rococo Cocco Reef’ is a breakthrough project for me. It will become a carbon sink on a grand scale, sequestering greenhouse emissions and depicts one of nature’s most efficient carbon sinks on a microscopic scale. A perfect marriage between form, function, and materiality.”–Mara G. Haseltine
At the Launch, Haseltine will give a talk about her microscopic inspiration for the design of The Rococo Cocco Reef, which she hopes to make a global prototype for sustainable reef restoration and marine building practices. She will discuss her microscopic marine muses for this massive sculpture and their role in regulating our shared biosphere. Also, she will reveal her top picks for innovative eco-friendly reef restoration and how she plans, to use them in conjunction with each other. Collectively, they could replace traditional toxic marine building and restoration materials, which utilize plastic, epoxy, and cheap concrete. Gaelin Rosenwaks will join Haseltine in this presentation. Rosenwaks is the Founder of Global Ocean Exploration, is a marine biologist, and will screen her documentary short, “Coral: A Glimmer of Hope” set in Palau. Her documentary explores the mysteries of coral species that may contain a secret of adaptation for survival. After the talk and screening, there will be Q & A followed by a reception. The event will be held at Automatic Studios at 6 pm on Saturday, June 1 (52 Bridge St. / Brooklyn NYC).
In addition, Haseltine will be exhibiting work for Oceans Week 2019 at The Explorer’s Club Headquarters in NYC June 3rd-11th with her sculpture Radiolarian Skeleton and also exhibit on the Japanese International Peace Boat in a print from her The Rococo Cocco Reef in conjunction with the United Nations for World Oceans Day June 8 on the West side of Manhattan.