Woven Together

20” x 30” 

Oil paint & Beading on Canvas

In Collaboration with Gavin Dehnert, Emerging Contaminant Scientist with Wisconsin Sea Grant

When creating this piece I took inspiration from Gavin’s work on contaminants affecting the bald eagle population. In our discussions the main takeaway I wanted to highlight was the interconnectedness and circular nature of the food web and how such seemingly small things can have a huge effect. We talked about how the contaminants accumulate in the eagle because of its high position on the food chain and its wide diet. I represented the contaminants accumulating in the eagle’s food and in the eagle and its young, through the beading on the surface of the canvas. As an artist and conservation biologist I draw much of my inspiration from natural forms of the world. I was excited about this project because it allowed me to combine my two disciplines into one piece.