Art, Ideas and Advocacy to Benefit the Oceans at I Heart Blue Event in New York City Jan. 30

Jan. 16, 2013 - PRLog -- New York, N.Y. — The Marine Environmental Research Institute, dedicated to protecting ocean life and human health through research, education and advocacy, has announced that the “I Heart Blue: An Ocean Love Affair” event will take place on January 30, 2013 at the ACA Galleries in New York City. Presented by the oceans awareness organization Blue Beyond Borders, the multi-media event will feature art, music, dance, poetry, ideas, and a roundtable conversation relating to ocean conservation.

“I Heart Blue: An Ocean Love Affair” will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at http://iheartblue.eventbrite.com/# (http://iheartblue.eventbrite.com/).

“I Heart Blue will be a night of hope and celebration for the multitude of efforts being made toward ocean conservation worldwide,” said Institute President and Founder Dr. Susan Shaw, a leading marine toxicologist, explorer and ocean advocate who has dedicated decades of research to understanding the threat of rapidly rising pollution in the world’s oceans. “This is a critical and exciting time as more people are becoming engaged enough in these issues to effect real change.”

The evening will include a roundtable conversation moderated by Fabien Cousteau, a filmmaker, oceanographic explorer and grandson of famed explorer and ocean conservationist Jacques Cousteau. The roundtable will feature Dr. Shaw; Rebecca Hoffberger, the dynamic founder and director of the American Visionary Arts Museum in Baltimore; and filmmakers Josh and Rebecca Tickell, with a clip from their provocative film, “The Big Fix”.

The event will support the Institute’s initiatives to help stem the flow of toxic contaminants into the world’s oceans, by raising awareness of the issues, and engaging the public and policymakers with innovative solutions.

“I am literally watching the oceans become toxic soup, and this has motivated me to sound the alarm to the public and legislators on Capitol Hill,” said Dr. Shaw.

Dr. Shaw is internationally recognized for her pioneering research on the toxic legacy of man-made chemicals in the ocean environment. During the 2010 BP oil spill, she was the only marine toxicologist to dive into the Gulf oil slick to assess the impacts of the oil and chemical dispersant Corexit. She is widely known for her TEDx talks about the experience and her appearance in Green Planet’s “The Big Fix”, the Official Selection documentary at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival about the negligence and cover-ups that led to the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Dr. Shaw has earned numerous awards for her work, including the Society of Women Geographers’ Gold Medal Award (known as the “Amelia Earhart award”), joining the ranks of Earhart, Margaret Mead, Jane Goodall, and Sylvia Earle.

I Heart Blue organizer and creative conservationist Asher Jay of Blue Beyond Borders has gathered acclaimed performers from diverse genres to provide entertainment with live music, film, dance, comedic theatre, rap and poetry. Artists include Dr. Wallace “J.” Nichols, activist, scientist and author whose poetry inspires a deeper connection with nature; Viki Psihoyos and the Waves of Love Dance Troupe; Canadian scholar-rapper Baba Brinkman; composer and double-bass musician Garth Stevenson; and Seth Michael May & Acting on Impulse Ensemble.

The event will feature gourmet catering, wine and the I Heart Blue signature cocktail “Surf Kiss”, as well as a silent auction with items including art, autographed books, award-winning photography, gift certificates and luxury goods. All silent auction proceeds will be donated to the Institute.

I Heart Blue will take place from 7 to 10 p.m. at the ACA Galleries, located at 529 West 20th St. in Manhattan. Tickets — $30 for general admission and $15 for students – can be purchased online at http://iheartblue.eventbrite.com/# (http://iheartblue.eventbrite.com/).

Media Contact:

Bill Fallon, keating/co
(212) 925-6900
bfallon@keatingco.com

About the Marine Environmental Research Institute:

The Marine Environmental Research Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting ocean life and human health through research, education and advocacy. For more information, visit the Institute online at www.meriresearch.org, e-mail info@meriresearch.org, or call 207.374.2135.