Field Work

A great environmentalist once told me “science needs artists, dancers, poets and creative minds to bring life and impact to the truth behind the data”. I firmly agree and try to combine art and science and education whenever I can in my work. Sometimes that looks like printmaking with beach trash while my students and I discuss single use plastics, or making a picture map of the animals and plants we discovered on a forest walk. I enjoy opening new eyes to the wonders in our own back yards, and encouraging stewardship through curiosity and understanding.

Cross-pollinate

These days I feel that art is a vital piece of telling the worlds stories and inspiring action towards positive change.  Especially exciting to me are projects that allow the opportunity to enhance ecological stories, challenge me to compellingly depict subjects and ideas, and use my diverse background to be of value as an embedded member of field research teams and collaborations.  At this point in my working life, I have led many expeditions near and far, written and managed significant grants, supported scientists at the ends of the earth, curated successful museum and gallery exhibits, put 50,000 of my picture books in small pairs of hands, designed large steel installations for public spaces, cared for a beloved elder, and mothered a son. ( I’ll save the fire circus and other fun side gigs for another day).

 These experiences all help fill my toolkit when trying to bring data to life through public outreach. Examples of how I have used this kind of cross-pollinating in the past include: virtual and in-person educational components for all ages, public service graphics and messaging, museum and gallery exhibition planning and curation, multimedia content for online platforms, printed books and catalogs, in person and online events and panels, or administration and grant-writing for art integration within a project. Contact me with any and all ideas on how we can join forces to educate and inspire change!