New Wisconsin State Capitol Origami Fish Art Installation Captures the Movement to Shut Down Line 5
State Rep. Francesca Hong, Yvonne Besyk, Elizabeth Ward, Tony Wilkin Gibart, and Jadine Sonoda. Photo courtesy of the Sierra Club.
MADISON, Wis. – A new art installation in the Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda is capturing the movement to shut down Line 5. “Fish for the Future,” a massive collective effort to protect the Great Lakes and shut down the Line 5 oil pipeline, officially broke the world record this summer for the largest display of origami fish at 86,262 origami fish– crushing the previous world record at 18,303 fish. Origami fish were sent in from all 50 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and the Netherlands.
The new Capitol installation follows the legal hearings challenging the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) decision to grant key state permits for the Line 5 reroute project, which would continue to jeopardize the water and safety of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and surrounding areas.
“We’re excited to bring this art installation to the Wisconsin State Capitol to show the commitment behind this movement to shut down Line 5. When we started this project, we had no idea how much enthusiasm there would be,” said Jadine Sonoda, one of the creators of the project and Campaign Coordinator for Sierra Club Wisconsin. “People care about the Great Lakes. They care about having safe water to drink. They care about protecting our ecosystems and local economies that rely on these lands and waters. All of this is in jeopardy every day that Line 5 continues to operate. Each of these origami fish shows the support we’ve gathered from all over the country and the world to shut down Line 5. Whether you live near the Great Lakes or not, we all understand how vital safe, clean water is. It’s something we’re all fighting to protect.”
The fish will be displayed in the rotunda starting today, October 27, until November 7, where it will then “swim” over to the Garver Feed Mill to be featured later this fall. The origami display is open and available to the public when the capitol is open.
For more information, visit Fish for the Future’s website and check out the photo gallery from the world record breaking announcement.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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