Art Meets Ocean - Inside Portland's Revolutionary Cartoon Aquarium

Episode Description

What happens when you combine marine biology expertise with immersive art? You get the world's only cartoon aquarium—and it's right here in Portland.

Join us as we explore the Portland Aquarium, an innovative art installation that's reimagining ocean education. Artist Mike Bennett and marine biologist Chanel Hason have created an experience featuring over 100 hand-painted marine species across six biomes—with zero live animals and maximum imagination.

Discover how this unique collaboration addresses real challenges in science communication: How do you show people a blue whale or giant squid when you can't keep them in captivity? How do you bring ocean education to communities without access to traditional aquariums? And how can art become a gateway to marine conservation?

From the technical details of getting sea otter tails scientifically accurate to the emotional power of painted seagulls with flapping wings, Mike and Chanel share the story of transforming a vacant downtown Portland space into a hub of creativity, education, and community connection—complete with support for real conservation work through the Elakha Alliance's sea otter reintroduction efforts.

Featured Guests

Mike Bennett - Portland-based artist and creator of immersive educational installations including the Portland Aquarium

Chanel Hason - Marine biologist and Director of Outreach & Community Relations at Elakha Alliance

Key Topics

• The intersection of art and marine science education
• Advantages of artistic representations versus traditional aquariums
• Scientific accuracy in creative work (yes, sea otter tail length matters!)
• Bringing ocean education to landlocked communities
• Creating community spaces through immersive art
• Supporting marine conservation through creative collaboration
• The Elakha Alliance's work to reintroduce sea otters to Oregon

Episode Highlights

• Why Portland's cartoon aquarium features species you'd never see in a traditional aquarium—like blue whales and giant squid
• How Mike's childhood visits to the Baltimore Aquarium inspired a career in immersive animal education
• The viral success of Mike's pandemic-era "A, B, Sea" installation that attracted 1,000+ visitors to his front yard
• Chanel's emotional connection to seeing the first footage of a living giant squid
• How the installation transformed a downtown corner from "graffiti and cigarette butts" to "sidewalk chalk and bubbles"
• The truth about blobfish: why they look so different at the surface versus the deep sea
• Creating animatronic seagulls and working with composer RAC to bring the installation to life
• Plans for a portable version to bring ocean education to schools in landlocked states

Mentioned in This Episode

Organizations:

• Elakha Alliance - Working to reintroduce sea otters to the Oregon coast
• Big Fish Lab at Oregon State University
• Imaginary Planet - Portland animation studio

The Portland Aquarium

• Location: Broadway & Alder, Downtown Portland, Oregon
• Open 7 days a week
• Instagram: @theportlandaquarium
• General admission: $14 | Children 2-12: $10 | Under 2: Free

Coming Soon: Zoo Aquarium Podcast - Mike and Chanel's upcoming show answering kids' questions about animals

Quote of the Episode

"It's the only cartoon aquarium in the world, which I think is really special. And there's a blue whale in the aquarium and some wild deep sea critters that couldn't be held in captivity no matter how you tried." - Chanel Hason

Why This Matters

The Portland Aquarium demonstrates how creative collaboration between artists and scientists can solve real problems in science communication and conservation outreach. By making ocean education accessible, affordable, and imaginative, Mike and Chanel are proving that wonder—and learning—can come in many forms.

Ocean Science Radio brings you the latest, greatest, and sometimes deepest stories in the ocean. Hosted by Andrew Kornblatt and Dr. Frances Farabaugh.