An innovative art exhibit featuring works by artist and marine scientist Oriana Poindexter will debut on November 8, 2025, at a museum on Catalina Island. This unique exhibition highlights the beauty and ecological significance of kelp through a series of captivating pieces created using blue silk and cyanotype images.
The exhibit aims to bring visitors closer to the underwater world surrounding Catalina. Kelp, an essential marine plant, serves as a vibrant focal point for many glass-bottom boat tours, allowing tourists to experience its beauty firsthand. Now, the artist invites guests to explore this underwater ecosystem in an entirely new way, without needing to immerse themselves in the ocean.
Poindexter collected samples of marine flora while diving near the island, which she then printed onto large pieces of blue silk. The result is a stunning visual representation of the intricate shapes and forms of these underwater specimens. The museum’s goal is to weave together art, science, and sensory experience, creating an immersive environment for visitors to engage with the natural world.
“I hope visitors will feel the sense of calm, curiosity, and connection that I experience underwater,” Poindexter stated. She emphasized that the exhibit is designed to serve as a portal into Catalina’s underwater realm, offering an experience that is intimate, meditative, and educational.
As guests wander through the “labyrinth” of silk pieces, they will encounter a variety of shapes inspired by the kelp forests that thrive just beneath the surface. This tactile and visual experience aims to foster a deeper appreciation for marine life and the ecosystems that sustain it.
The exhibit will remain open until October 11, 2026, providing ample opportunity for both locals and tourists to engage with this captivating display. Visitors to Avalon are encouraged to stop by the museum in the months ahead to explore the silky splendor of kelp-inspired art and its connection to the vibrant underwater world surrounding Catalina Island.
