Artist Statement
I was interested in finding a species that, like us, spends time on land and in the water. I was calling it an "emissary species" My mural focuses on Helice Crassa, or the common tunneling mud crab. This little crab has an extraordinary role in the rehabilitation of their estuary environment. Estuaries serve as a sort of filter between river systems and coastal areas, and these crabs help keep the estuaries porous through their tunneling and feeding practices. They are also a favorite food of many birds and fish. These crabs, however, are vulnerable to contaminants such as pesticides that find their way into river systems My piece is about the simple changes one can make in their own environments. The choice not to use pesticides in gardens can make a big difference in the quantities of pesticides that wind up in these crabs' environment. The psychedelic style of this piece is meant as a device to speak about the connectivity of all living things.
