Entangled Rights

By Sophie Shannon

 

Entangled Rights was inspired by an idea that came to me during my senior year of high school for my capstone project. I wanted the project to reflect both what I had learned throughout high school and what I hoped to pursue beyond it, combining my passions for art and wildlife conservation. While watching the news one night, I learned about the rapid decline of the North Atlantic Right Whale due to ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. This issue felt especially important in Maine, where fishing and lobstering are vital to many communities, making the topic both relevant and controversial. Through documentaries and research, I learned that Right Whales are slow-moving, surface-feeding baleen whales that primarily consume zooplankton, particularly copepods, and play a critical role in marine ecosystems. I also discovered how climate change, especially the rapid warming of the Gulf of Maine, is altering their migration patterns and pushing them closer to shipping routes, increasing their vulnerability. This research motivated me to create an artwork that could raise awareness about the challenges these whales face.

With guidance from my art teacher, I was connected to local artist and activist Anna Dibble, whose work on a whale exhibit at the Maine Maritime Museum further inspired my project. I decided to construct a whale sculpture using discarded fishing rope to directly reference entanglement. I was fortunate to receive a large collection of old rope from a retired Maine lobsterman, which my father and I transported together. Although I originally planned a fully three-dimensional sculpture, time and weather constraints led me to create a mostly flat piece with elements extending outward, giving the illusion that the whale was emerging from the ocean. I allowed the piece to develop organically as each rope guided the next. My intent with the vibrant colors and large scale was to capture attention and spark conversation about the Right Whale’s struggles.

After more than ninety hours of work, Entangled Rights was displayed at a local art center in Bowdoinham. During opening night, I connected with members of the Maine Coalition for North Atlantic Right Whales, whose passion and knowledge further fueled my commitment to conservation. Since then, the piece was submitted to the Tidal Shift Award competition and displayed at the Portland Museum of Art during the summer of 2025. It will now reside in the education center of the Maine State Aquarium in Boothbay. I am currently a sophomore in college majoring in New Media with a minor in Zoology. I plan to continue advocating for wildlife conservation through my photography, videography, and future sculptural work focused on Maine’s wildlife, climate change, and community education.