When I moved to Oakland, California was shocked to see a beautiful tidal lagoon in the center of the city. Lake Merritt is the oldest wildlife refuge in the United States. This area of the city has so much to see. As my young family grew we visited the park often. One of our favorite sections is Lakeside Park and the Palm forest hidden inside. The Palmetum has one of the most extensive palm collections in the United States. Growing up in Oregon where we don’t have palm tress, I was awestruck by the grandeur and variety of these trees. I’m drawn to the long graceful fronds, the fruits and red fiber covering the trunk.

I always knew this would be part of my work and here’s the piece where it seemed to fit. The bone clay is mixed with pink toned pigments and paired with the rich palm fiber and golden color of this unknown snake shed.

16” x 20” Unknown snake shed, clay plaster, palm tree fiber, earth pigments on clay board