The Backstory

Katerina commissioned this art piece from Sarah Holst, an artist friend who draws large floating watersheds that represent the biodiversity from different regions. Artwork can engender deeper love, learning and care for our place. A Western Mono friend, Au-nitch Carpenter, spoke into the piece and Sarah added their traditional dwellings along with the California Grizzly Bear, now extinct, but an important animal relative for Indigenous peoples here along with Spring-run Chinook Salmon.

We revealed this piece at a Wild Church gathering in January of 2023, and also took time to create our own art based on the natural world. Two scientists in the group spoke at the gathering alongside the artist about the unique flora and fauna in our watershed, including Tule Elk, Valley Oak trees, Salmon, Willow, and Mountain Yellow-legged Frogs. The artist pointed out how she included "wounded places" on the land, like the Friant Dam, aerial pesticide spraying, oil derricks, and industrial agriculture. 

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