I’ve always loved the artistic detail, the design aesthetic, and overall message of learning and knowledge presented in traditional natural history posters; those beautifully illustrated examples of all the different types of moths or chile peppers or flower life cycles. This piece is my interpretation of the natural history poster, and, in common with much of my work, draws on traditional quilt forms such as the mandala and free motion quilting, coupled with a graphic design approach to form and color. It’s part of an ongoing series to understand more about the state where I live, and features one or more mammals from each order/superorder native to Oklahoma spiraling in overlapping rings. My goal is to highlight the interconnected nature of our ecosystems and the urgent need to preserve diversity in the natural world, starting in our own backyards.
32"W x 48"H, 2017, $1000