Synergy

Artist Statement

"The rising acidity of the oceans threatens the coral reefs throughout our planet. Our coral reefs are some of the most valuable ecosystems on the earth as they support more species per unit area than any other marine environment. When reefs are damaged or destroyed, the absence of this natural barrier can increase the damage to coastal communities. Two issues happening on the island of Bimini are coral bleaching and acidification due to climate change. Not only is this detrimental to the marine biodiversity of the coral reefs, but also to the coastal communities that rely on these reefs to provide food, tourism, and storm protection. I wanted to bring awareness to this environmental issue for this project. At the center, the focal point is a healthy colorful reef interacting/intersecting with a human hand. The reef and the hand create the impression of a symbiotic relationship. The reef transforms into the hand, connecting to its veins. This brings attention to the fact that we need to be more mindful about our interactions with the oceans, reefs, and the environment. Our actions, or lack thereof, have brought this catastrophe on, and we still have time to act and make changes moving forward. Surrounding the hand is the ocean that almost shields the healthy coral from the bleached coral that seems vastly encroaching."

The Focus

Coral reef conservation

Take Action

You can help save coral reefs by:

• Reducing your carbon footprint.
• Using reef-friendly sunscreen.
• Only consuming sustainably caught sea life.
• Being an ocean-minded voter.