Artist Statement:

As I reflect on the concept of community from an ecological standpoint, as “a group of independent organisms of different species growing or living together in a specified habitat,” I cant help but think of how this illustrates our own communities and neighborhoods. We each offer a benefiting and balancing component to society. Metaphorically speaking, the plants represented in this design offer a lens into the kinds of relationships we function within and foster, and we know that healthy relationships create thriving environments. Not only can we see ourselves expressed in the imagery of this design, we can see the importance of our relationship to the natural world as well. With deeper awareness and a dash of education, we can become better stewards of the shoreline and therefore care for the lake, the wildlife, and ultimately our own communities.