Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The Unseen Devastation of the BP Oil "Spill" Made Visible
The five watercolors below were inspired by my anger and sadness over the damage the BP oil “spill” has caused to the creatures of the Gulf of Mexico and their environment. I use Chinese brush painting technique and Byzantine art imagery to show how these creatures have been “crucified” in the name of pride and greed – our greed for more and more energy producing resources such as oil, and our pride in thinking that these resources are there for our taking no matter what the cost to nature and ultimately ourselves.
Loggerhead Sea Turtle Profile
Loggerhead Sea Turtle
1. In Atlantic Ocean, most loggerheads found along southeastern coast of North America and in Gulf of Mexico; 80% nest on south Florida beaches
2. Loggerheads reach sexual maturity late, at 20-30 years old
3. Endangered globally; greatest threat is accidental capture in fishing gear and direct harvest of adults
4. After BP oil disaster, many found dead
1. In Atlantic Ocean, most loggerheads found along southeastern coast of North America and in Gulf of Mexico; 80% nest on south Florida beaches
2. Loggerheads reach sexual maturity late, at 20-30 years old
3. Endangered globally; greatest threat is accidental capture in fishing gear and direct harvest of adults
4. After BP oil disaster, many found dead
Bluefin Tuna Profile
Bluefin Tuna
1. The Gulf of Mexico is one of only two bluefin nurseries worldwide
2. Unlike most tunas, bluefin slow growing and late maturing
3. Critically endangered globally; popular to eat for humans, so severely overfished
4. Presently okay in Gulf, but it took 3 years for the Exxon oil disaster in Alaska to destroy the herring stock; it still hasn’t recovered
1. The Gulf of Mexico is one of only two bluefin nurseries worldwide
2. Unlike most tunas, bluefin slow growing and late maturing
3. Critically endangered globally; popular to eat for humans, so severely overfished
4. Presently okay in Gulf, but it took 3 years for the Exxon oil disaster in Alaska to destroy the herring stock; it still hasn’t recovered
Blue Crab Profile
Blue Crab
1. Although widely distributed, they are mong the most heavily harvested creatures on the planet
2. Important as prey and predator in their ecosystem; food for herons, sea turtles and many bird species and prey on clams, oysters, mussels, snails and a wide variety of vegetable and animal matter
3. Are very sensitive to environmental and habitat changes, and many populations, in the Chesapeake Bay for example, have declined; harmed by low oxygen caused by pollutants
4. Females mate only once in their lives, and spawn where oil was most concentrated – the coastal beaches and near-shore Gulf; additionally, after spawn the crab is most vulnerable to pollutants as it grows from egg to juvenile
1. Although widely distributed, they are mong the most heavily harvested creatures on the planet
2. Important as prey and predator in their ecosystem; food for herons, sea turtles and many bird species and prey on clams, oysters, mussels, snails and a wide variety of vegetable and animal matter
3. Are very sensitive to environmental and habitat changes, and many populations, in the Chesapeake Bay for example, have declined; harmed by low oxygen caused by pollutants
4. Females mate only once in their lives, and spawn where oil was most concentrated – the coastal beaches and near-shore Gulf; additionally, after spawn the crab is most vulnerable to pollutants as it grows from egg to juvenile
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
