Reflection

When I first read the prompt of “Making Meaning out of Ocean Pollution”, I immediately had in my head the images of wildlife completely overwhelmed by oil that surfaced in the wake of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. I knew that I wanted to work off of the same powerful imagery, but I also wanted to emphasize humanity’s direct role in causing oil spills. My research into ocean pollution has left me with the continuously repeating thought that the harm done to marine animals by oil spills is completely avoidable, and completely lies on mankind’s conscience. Thus, in Photoshop Elements, I digitally painted a great blue heron held hostage by grasping, dripping hands. The great blue heron was one of the many species impacted by the Gulf oil spill, and in my image it is a stand-in for all the negative consequences of the spill. The hands, made out of dripping oil, represents humanity’s regrettable part in bringing harm to hapless animals. Through my art, I hope to remind any viewers that oil spills, however distant, are an environmental crime we are all responsible for. We all depend on gasoline, in one form or another; the least we could do is ensure that our dependency does not suffocate our surroundings.