Norwalk's Maritime Aquarium is hosting a week of special activities in celebration of World Ocean Day.

Local artist and University of Hartford professor Kat Owens hosted an interactive art project for aquarium visitors Thursday morning.

Owens creates life-size portraits of animals harmed by plastic pollution by hand-sewing film plastic onto canvases.

Visitors helped her work on a portrait of a 51-foot humpback whale while discussing how plastic harms the oceans.

"I've been studying climate change for 20 years, and you know, plastic pollution is really associated with it. I'm a glass is half-full person, I always believe we can solve the problem, but time is running out. We need to actually begin to solve the problem and not just talk about the problem in my opinion," said Owens.

More family-friendly activities are happening at the Aquarium this weekend to learn more about the world's oceans.