As a parent to young children, I have spent a lot of time at the San Diego zoo. Every time we go, I have to confront how many animals were endangered or extinct in the wild because of human behavior. It is really difficult to explain that we are living through a human-caused mass extinction. Many animals of our San Diego County region will be extinct in our lifetimes. During the pandemic, I turned to my art practice to relieve some anxiety about the future. My paintings create a world where people and nature co-exist. Time is running out to avoid climate collapse, and I want to create a sense of motion and feeling of immediacy through my brushstrokes to capture the wildlife and natural spaces before they disappear. 

By using photographs, memories and a growing knowledge of native flora and fauna, I collage people, plants and animals into an existing space. Access to nature as deepens our understanding of humanity’s place in the ecosystem. The simple fact is humans are a small part of Earth, yet share a huge responsibility to manage resources in sustainable ways. Humans are connected to living and non-living systems, and this belief is integral to many Indigenous cultures which must be elevated and preserved. Physical well-being is inextricably linked to clean air and fresh water, but human health also requires natural spaces for recreation and enjoyment. We are living in a time of tenuous existence with nature, and there are no guarantees for the future; stopping climate change may not be possible. I hope viewers will examine their own personal relationship to nature and support conservation efforts in their backyard.

As a resident of the Tijuana River watershed, I have not been able to visit the beach for many years because of pollution from Mexico. Watersheds exist throughout Southern California and the flow of water connects mountains to sea and distant communities to each other. What happens to one area of the watershed affects another, and although wetlands naturally filters out toxins and restores balance, 90% of California's wetlands have been destroyed. Focusing on existing wetlands areas in need of restoration and protection, such as the Tijuana estuary and San Diego River, I hope to raise awareness of how they have been greatly impacted by pollution and habitat destruction.