The title of the work is “What Goes Here, Ends Up There.” This stencil art was created to raise awareness about pollution entering storm drains, which leads to environmental issues in Biscayne Bay and infrastructure concerns, such as flooding, within the City of Miami. The stencil measures 2 x 2 feet with a 3-inch border, and it is comprised of two layers: the Trash layer and the Manatee layer. In the Trash layer, objects are simplified to represent generic waste commonly found in storm drains. This layer is placed on top to symbolize trash floating on the surface of the water. Integrated into this layer is the phrase "What Goes Here, Ends Up There,” which appears over the silhouettes of manatees. The color of this layer is coral red, chosen to highlight the urgency of pollution and to create visual contrast that draws the viewer’s attention to the issue. The second layer is the Manatee layer, which features two silhouettes of manatees swimming in the current. I chose manatees as imagery because they are one of the most notable marine animals native to Biscayne Bay. The color used for this layer is a deep blue or navy, reinforcing the aquatic theme and creating contrast with the red layer above.
Anthony Andrade