Art LOVES Cayman: Turning Trash Into Treasure
The Art of Giving Back
Art LOVES Earth embarked on its inaugural Influencer Expedition in the Cayman Islands, in partnership with the Captain Planet Foundation, Lonely Whale Foundation and Plastic Free Cayman, bringing together a global team of 20 artists, photographers, filmmakers, models, actors, activists, divers, and chefs. With a shared mission of raising awareness about plastic pollution, the expedition marked the beginning of a powerful movement blending creativity, community outreach, and environmental conservation.
Volunteer Team
A group of celebrity actors, filmmakers, photographers, models, and philanthropists dedicated their time and talents. Prominent participants included supermodels, actors and social media stars including Meredith Mickelson, Cindy Kimberly, Neels Visser, Marquel Williams, Katelyn Byrd and Juliette Perkins, filmmaker and founder of Art LOVES Earth Ryan Hattaway, co-founder Pamela Atkins, and cinematographers Eric Pare, Sam Lancaster, JD Butler, Jamie Trusheim, with additional guest appearances by eco-celebrities Adrien Grenier, Fabien Cousteau, and Laura Turner-Seydel.
ART LOVES Cayman: Eco Heroes – featuring Laura & Ted Turner, Adrien Grenier & Fabien Cousteau
A Collaborative Effort for Change
In partnership with the Captain Planet Foundation, Plastic Free Cayman, and VRTU Studios, the Art LOVES Earth team volunteered in a series of impactful initiatives. From beach cleanups to art activations, the goal was to inspire change while shining a spotlight on local champions like Steff McDermott, a young environmental advocate who earned a grant from the Captain Planet Foundation and actor Adrien Grenier’s Lonely Whale Foundation for her efforts to eliminate single-use plastics in the Cayman Islands.
Trash To Treasure: Beach Cleanup x Art Project
The team’s journey began with a warm welcome from Miss Cayman herself, who shared the challenges facing the islands. Fueled by this message, Art LOVES Earth and Plastic Free Cayman led a beach cleanup alongside local high school students. Over 2,000 pounds of plastic waste was collected and later transformed into striking art sculptures at Stoak’d Cayman Studios, led by local artist Marc Laurenson. These pieces became a visual reminder of the impact of plastic pollution and the potential for turning trash into treasure.
Marc Laurenson’s art, crafted from upcycled trash, bridges creativity with conservation. His bold works encourage reflection on our consumption habits and their environmental consequences, inspiring viewers to rethink waste and embrace sustainable solutions.
ART LOVES Cayman: Trash to Treasure
Dive & Dine: Tackling Invasive Species
The mission expanded underwater, with the team earning scuba certifications through Ambassador Divers before embarking on their first open water dive to hunt invasive lionfish. These predators, harmful to local ecosystems, were skillfully prepared by chefs at The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman for a “Dive & Dine” event. The dinner showcased the importance of addressing invasive species through creative culinary solutions, advocating for their inclusion on menus to help control their population.
Light Up The World: Illuminating Change
The expedition also featured breathtaking collaborations with world-renowned light painting artist Eric Paré, who created ethereal “Light Up The World” artworks along Grand Cayman’s serene coastlines. These stunning visuals, shared across social media, captured the beauty of the islands while underscoring the urgency of conservation efforts.
Eric Pare is one of the most recognizable light painting artists at the moment. His work has been featured on CNN, MTV, BBC, Vice, TEDx, and he has recently worked on large scale campaigns with Adobe, HP, Intel, Facebook, Canon and Microsoft.
Light Painting by Eric Pare featuring Meredith Mickelson
ART LOVES Cayman: Stop. Think. Chew.
Raising Awareness:
The Art LOVES Cayman team documented their journey through films, photography, and social media posts shared with millions of followers, amplifying awareness of Fijian culture, environmental challenges, and the need for sustainable tourism. The Cayman Islands expedition was produced by Art LOVES Earth Founder Ryan Hattaway and Co-Founder Pamela Atkins.
ART LOVES Cayman: Connecting With Nature
Culminating in Recognition
The Captain Planet Foundation’s Benefit Gala showcased the impact of the expedition. The Art LOVES Earth documentary teaser premiered to an audience of 750, including Ted Turner, Laura Turner, Adrian Grenier, and Chris Tucker. Steff McDermott, who was featured in the documentary, was honored with the Young SuperHero For Earth Award, further solidifying the expedition’s success in fostering future environmental leaders. Art LOVES Earth also donated several fine art prints for the charity auction that were shot in the Cayman Islands by the creative team.
Building a Movement
The Art LOVES Cayman Expedition exemplified how art, community, and action can spark global change. By transforming plastic waste into art, tackling invasive species, and amplifying their mission through powerful storytelling, Art LOVES Earth proved that even small steps can lead to monumental impact.
Stay tuned for more exciting initiatives as Art LOVES Earth continues to empower communities and protect our planet. Together, we can turn creativity into conservation and create a sustainable future for generations to come.
Unwavering Support from Partners:
The initiative was made possible with support from several title sponsors including VRTU Studios, Atkins & Associates, Captain Planet Foundation, Plastic Free Cayman, Ocean Heroes, Solid & Striped Swimwear, Brownlee & Co, Teplis Travel, ishine365, Gents and Luxury Cayman Villas.
A Global Vision
Art LOVES Earth is planning similar initiatives in other countries in 2025 and beyond. The organization is actively seeking partnerships with tourism boards, content creators, brands, talent and donors aligned with its mission to combine art and environmental advocacy to create meaningful change.
![🎬 Lights, Camera, Conservation 🌊✨
We are beyond excited to introduce the first of six of our @artlovesearth films from our Fiji recent expedition! Our groundbreaking volunteer initiative brought top creatives, celebrities & philanthropists (including Abbey Cowen, Olivia Holt, Rumer Willis, Tallulah Willis & Miss Supermodel Fiji Alisha Idana) to the breathtaking Fiji Islands for 12 days of art, community, immersive experiences and environmental action.
From empowering remote villages & supporting Heart Heroes & Corals for Conservation to planting coral reefs visible from space and capturing stunning “Ghosts of the Reef” underwater shots—our mission was clear: experience Fiji’s beauty, share its stories, & give back.
Watch our film series as we celebrate local culture, sustainable tourism, & the power of creative change. Stay tuned for more films & join us on this journey!
Learn more & get involved: [Link in bio]
#ArtLOVESFiji #FijiFilms #EcoTourism #SustainableTravel #Conservation #HeartHeroes #CoralsForConservation #ARTLOVESEARTH
🎥✨@vrtu @ryanhattaway @enochkimphotography](https://artlovesearth.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/480010246_18359769007192107_254637156594593721_n.jpg)
