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Turning someone else's trash.... into treasure with a jellyfish sculpture crafted from marine debris...
It's just one of the sea creatures created from discarded fishing nets by artist Collette Gray.
"So it's all the marine debris that's been collected, washed up, rubbish off the beach, and then come to make use of something. Our big goal is to keep our beaches clean and pristine and also to protect our marine life that's in the water as well. We've also been learning about our culture as well as learning about our connection with the sea."
The sculptures on display in Ceduna in South Australia are showcasing Indigenous culture.
Another artist, Janine Gray, says they are raising awareness about harmful fishing practices.
"We love the ocean, we go fishing, if we take too much we share it out with families."
Ttwo sculptures from this area, a crab called Guldamura and Jidarah the whale, have been sold to a Swiss gallery.
Collette Gray again:
"He got to go to Monaco, overseas, so last year he done a tour in Europe and he's been having some fun times... and he sold a long way from us but it's good to have that feedback and comments coming back to us."
The ocean is a strong theme for these artists.
The Mirning people are the cultural custodians of the Great Australian Bight, a nationally significant whale nursery.
The Aboriginal nations of South Australia's far west coast stood together to protest against oil drilling here and in 2020 the Norwegian company Equinor pulled out of the controversial project.
Janine Gray says some of the art show what could have been the future.
"They were going to drill in the bight, but we ended up protesting. If they did drill this is what would have happened. Everything would have been skeletal in the sea."
Another artist, Sherrie Jones says women and children from the Yalata community - west of Ceduna - collected discarded rope from fishing vessels and other recycled material to make an image of a South Australian Harlequin reef fish.
"It means that we are doing something good for our community and also our environment and keeping mother earth safe.”
She says the model of an Orca, also a result of the collaboration, carries an important message.
"It was also made with black and white to make a big statement for reconciliation... and also Indigenous and non-Indigenous working together for the next generation to make it a better place for us. It's one of my favourites."
Bringing Indigenous and non Indigenous communities together.
