The Sacred Forest

36.75 x 24.75 inches

Collage with Linoleum Block Elements on Hanji

2023

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This artwork commemorates my journey to the Amazon Jungle in 2023, where I connected with Indigenous land protectors resisting oil companies and other extractive industries. The Amazon is one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, home to over a third of Earth's plant and animal species.

In 2022, I joined the board of Amazon Watch, recognizing the importance of supporting Indigenous resistance, especially since my home state of California is a major consumer of Amazon crude oil. Our choices directly impact the rainforest. Visiting the Amazon, I was humbled by its biodiversity and the unwavering dedication of Indigenous communities who bravely oppose powerful corporations. 

One of the women who guided me through a walk in the forest assured me the forest itself would communicate, revealing how I could best protect and advocate for her. Through this piece, I express my profound love for the rainforest and urge others to join the fight to safeguard the Amazon rainforest.