Art Meets Ocean - Inside Portland's Revolutionary Cartoon Aquarium

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