A Shrine to Lost Causes
Artist Statement
The older I get, the more I wonder at the fragility of life. There have been five mass extinctions in Earth’s history and each event has wiped out 75-90% of existing species. Many believe we are in the middle of a sixth. The Extinct Animal series focuses on species loss in North America over the last 200 years. I am focusing on extinction by human actions. Documenting their presence on Earth, each story is told with an accurate rendering of the species in the center and patterns of its history radiating out. Some of the images are portraits of loss, as the species are extinct. Some of the images are endangered species on the edge of survival. And, some are the lucky few in recovery, highlighting success stories in nature conservation. It’s overwhelming being at a crossroads between destruction and preservation. The process of making keeps my hands busy while my mind focuses on the evolution of life. It’s fascinating to consider that the demise of dinosaurs allowed mammals to thrive.