Prairie Weeds

"Prairie Weeds" is another whimsical and imaginary field of weeds generated by interactions among the seeds of biodiversity. It's not real but it's fun!

Prairie Biodiversity

“Prairie Biodiversity” is a whimsical suggestion of the plants that can spring up in a field left on its own. A stroll through a field of grass can help the observant to discover a variety of plants and flowers that are unexpected at first glance. Restoring land, whether it is a hillside like at Mt. St. John, or seashore where dunes are preserved, encourages growth of the oddly shaped or multi-colored plant.
Imagine the possibilities—just like this painting is full of imagination.

"Ghost Coral and Fish"

"Ghost Coral and Fish" is a shadowy portrayal of bleached coral and ghosts of the fish that were nurtured there. Sometimes called the Rain forests of the Sea, the coral reefs serve as nurseries to countless species. However, they cannot tolerate the damage that is caused by sewage, fertilizer, ocean warming and other pollutants. So, they become ghosts and we have fewer and fewer colonies. The demise of coral reefs, estimated to be at 10 percent now, will change to 70 percent unless we make changes in damage caused by pipelines, cables, pollution and tourism.

This set of three monotypes are currently on display at the Gallery St. John in Beavercreek, Ohio and are part of 2009 Marianist Environmental Education Center Art Show. The theme for the exhibit is "What on Earth is Missing?"

"Shoreline"

"Shoreline" depicts the encroachment of the sea onto our land. The poem by Robert Frost, "Devotion" is a somewhat nostalgic commentary on just how vital the shoreline is to hold the sea at bay. The homes along the shore, the land we live on, are slowly being eaten away by the rise in sea level.

"Away, Away, Milky Way"

"Away, Away, Milky Way" indicates a night sky filled with stars, constellations and our own Milky Way. Yet, seldom do we view this night sky in all its beauty because the lights in our yards, streets, parking lots and buildings light up the sky and cause the brilliance of our universe to fade. If we have a chance to look at the sky in the desert, on the ocean, or in undeveloped areas, we gasp with pleasure because we can see so much in the sky. If we just turn down the glow of our lighting, we will turn up the night sky.