Reflection

Reflection

When I read this year’s theme, I knew I wanted to celebrate the nature that shaped me in my home city of San Francisco. I drew the city from a bird’s-eye view, weaving in the places that defined my connection to the outdoors—from Land’s End and Ocean Beach to Golden Gate Park, along with personal landmarks like my grandparents’ house, my synagogue, and the Botanical Garden. My inspiration deepened when I saw sea otters while kayaking. Otters are a keystone species on the California coast, yet they vanished from San Francisco Bay due to overhunting. Their story mirrors the health of our entire ecosystem, so including both real otters and my childhood plush otter became a way to honor how they’ve shaped my love for nature. Creating this piece pushed me to learn more about our local ecosystem and how I can help protect it. Working digitally allowed me to make prints for my school’s new art-for-charity club, The Giving Brush, supporting environmental initiatives in our community. Art makes me feel empowered—it turns ideas into impact. My message to viewers is simple: connect with the nature around you, learn about it, and care for it. We all play a role in preserving the ecosystems we call home, whether it’s San Francisco’s kelp forests or the habitats in your own backyard.