By artist Rick Beau Lieu
Boynton Beach, Florida
Opus 14 Sea Turtle
Medium: Welded steel finished in bronze patina
Size: 54"w x 46" d x 14"h

Environment Art PROJECT

Opus 14 Sea Turtle was created through a joint effort of the Project Reef Keeper, The Center for Marine Conservation and artist, Rick Beau Lieu. The idea was to create sea creatures out of repossessed metal which had been associated with environmentally hazardous material, oil sludge in this case. Rick used pipes that had been fasten to the deck of a Exxon offshore oil rig in the Bahamas and were used as an oil return flushing system.

This material would serve the project mission and provided for the environmental clean up exercise outlined in the project. The artist remove the sludge and send it out for reprocessing to collect any soil contaminated during the process and likewise treat it.

Rick built three of seven marine sculptures using this material.  "Opus 14 Sea Turtle" was completed in 1990 and spent the first five years touring the east coast from Long Island to Islamorada in the Florida Keys. In 1995, the sculpture came to the City of Boynton Beach to help raise funds to restore the Historical Schoolhouse Children's Museum.  It has been on loan to the City ever since.

October 2008, the City purchased "Opus 14 Sea Turtle."  It will have a permanent home at the City's beach, Oceanfront Park. The sculpture will serve to educate visitors about the undeveloped, pristine beach that is essential for the existence of marine life. The steel oil pipe material that the sculpture is made from demonstrates the beauty that can come from recycled materials.  The sculpture will actualize the Recreation and Parks department's intent to provide education and character to each of its city parks.