My latest passion project has been creating a painting for Seventh Generation Art Fair this summer, hosted by The Elisabeth Jones Art Center in Portland Oregon. This project creates a community of coastal watchers by collectively forming a one mile panomural depicting the California, Oregon, and Washington coastline. This is dedicated to reinvigorating environmental consciousness and addressing the urgent need of ocean health. As artists we’re asked to choose a nonprofit to donate a third of the proceeds to and to paint a place in our hearts. I’m hopelessly in love with this one.
Esselen Homelands/Big Sur Bliss, 2x4’ oil on wood panel, 2021
“Whoever settles here hopes he will be the last invader.”
When I first came out West from Kentucky I only intended on staying two months, and that was three years ago. The family that hosted me happened to be among some of the first generation of homesteaders here in the late fifties, and all around wonderful people that opened up their colorful world to me. And so I dove on in! This place makes me feel like I could fly out of my body and cry at the same time, it’s so beautiful. I cherish memories of swimming in these waters, eating strawberries in the sun and savoring my bliss. After being here I always feel more grounded and expansive.
‘Big Basin Campsite’ hanging on a grandfather redwood tree at Henry Miller Library. It’s for sale, and if you purchase 1/3 goes to the library.
I was mindful to include poison oak at the base of this painting because it abundantly lines the coasts here. It’s also a very useful plant with an infamous reputation. Since most of us react extremely sensitively to it, we avoid areas where it lives. Therefore the landscape is allowed rest from too much human activity.
“ We can thank poison oak for helping to keep steep slopes in place and for fostering oak woodlands here on the Central Coast.”
While making this I re-listened to an Esselen Tribal Blessing by Chief Tom Little Bear Nason from the Bohypsian podcast. The Esselen Tribe of Monterey Co won back 1,199 acres of their sacred ancestral homeland after 250 years this past July. If you ever find yourself going to this magical place I urge you to listen to this first, to understand the land you’re entering into and your responsibility to it once you’re there. Please don’t litter, leave no trace and/or improve it, and maybe skip the part of recklessly pulling over to get the millionth selfie taken by Bixby Bridge.
The mural will be up July 25 in Lincoln City, Oregon, and then individual panels will be for sale in their Portland gallery this Fall. Once sold, the proceeds will be split into thirds:
A third to the Elisabeth Jones Art Center, a gallery committed to environmental and social justice that creates amazing projects like this, a third to the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County, because this is their ancestral homeland and if anyone can restore the landscape back to health it’s them, and a third to me, to help me keep learning from the land by painting places I love with enough gas in my car to get there.
Thanks for reading! Always travel in braids xo
