ART INSIGHTS Creating Wealth as a Successful Artist - John Dahlsen

Central ConcernsIt amazes me to think how many timesI have bent over to pick up the manythousands of pieces of plastic debris thatmade up that aspect of my art, each piecejostled around for an unknown duration bysand, sun and ocean, their form altered,faded and rounded by the elements.The unabated dumping of thousands oftonnes of plastics has been expressed inmy assemblages, installations, totems,digital prints, paintings and publicartworks. And yet, despite my outrage atthis environmental vandalism, I returnedto the beach daily to find more pieces formy artist’s palette. While the litter seemsto have decreased in some areas, oceanwaste is a growing global concern.Many artists are now highlightingenvironmental concerns in their work,such as climate change. I am alwayshopeful that art can help shift awarenessin a positive direction. I am also hopeful49