mimi cernyar fox
The Enchantment of Marine Life
My current artwork is inspired by my surroundings, where I am immersed in the mystery of marine life. I have been to sea with the commercial fishermen, and as a mariner’s wife, I know intimately the impact the ocean can have on one's soul. Inspired by the sea and the seabirds that dive into her waters for their food, I have used these paintings and mosaics to tell a little bit of their story.
From white-winged scooters to some species of seagull, the number of everyday marine birds here has plummeted dramatically in recent decades, and so has their food. Many of the shorebirds are down 20% or more from 1970, according to a story in the July 2014 Seattle Times. The reasons have varied, ranging from climate change and shoreline development to marine pollution and predation.
We know many species of gull are born and live in Alaska until they begin to migrate. Oftentimes, it is just the native people and the mariners who see the seabirds in hosts of numbers. However, new studies have shown that our marine birds are in severe decline, including some gull species.
This decline is not just a statistic for me—it is a lived reality that echoes through the salt air and across the shifting tides. With awe at the resilience of ocean life, I am compelled to capture their fleeting beauty in the vibrant spirit of my work.
In my sand dollar mosaics, I use sand dollars that the gulls have eaten as an environmental symbol of the decline in food for the birds and the need to care for the sea.
The sand dollar mosaics and my paintings of the sea and marine birds are in many collections throughout the USA, including the Hatfield Marine Science Center.
With these works of art, I hope to bring enchantment into daily life, delighting the spirit and charming the heart." Mimi Cernyar Fox
