Standing 82 feet long on the high-desert campus of Santa Fe Community College in New Mexico, a life-sized blue whale made entirely from discarded trash continues to attract attention from around the world. Its huge size and message about protecting the environment have made it a notable attraction. Created in 2018 by California-based artists Joel Dean Stockdill and Yustina Salnikova, the sculpture is named "Ethyl the Whale". It was built using about 5,000 pounds of single-use plastic waste. After being moved from California to its permanent home in New Mexico, the record-setting artwork was named a Roadside America Sight of the Week in 2026, bringing further attention to its importance as a cultural attraction. The giant artwork highlights the growing problem of ocean pollution. It also shows how everyday waste can be turned into public art.
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