Story Behind This Mural
This mural was painted to coincide with the Sea of Change Volcom x PangeaSeed Foundation retrospective print show and fundraiser at the Volcom Garden in Austin, Texas.
Artist Statement
The Whooping Crane is the rarest of cranes and one of the most endangered birds in the world, currently suffering a major population decline due to habitat loss and over-hunting. For the First People’s of this region, the bird is an important symbol of peacemaking, here held lovingly in the arms of a young girl. Its body is an expression of interconnectedness, morphing into the very landscape itself, embodying the simultaneous forms of water, land, and sky that are its domain.
In these times of escalating and unprecedented environmental loss, what part of these problems can each of us care for, taking personal responsibility to hold and protect even a small piece of the natural world? What can we learn from the original stewards of this place, and their intimate connection to the environment? Exploring the way we touch the land and water that supports our lives is a vital way to discover a powerful sense of self-worth, and a deeper spiritual connection to the planet.