Melody, UR - Inspiration All Around

Every chance I have, I set up camp in a hammock by the river or the beach. I use the natural specimens around me for inspiration in my art. A breath of fresh air, a crisp breeze off the glistening water, and a blue sky above me are the simple factors that make a perfect day for me. Environmental

Taking a break from paddling at Piddler Island. 

Science feels like an obvious field for me to study. I am driven by how much I enjoy the natural world and I want to help keep the environment in tact for future generations. Seeing the destruction of the environment right before my eyes motivates me to pursue a career in conserving the beauty and wonder in the environment. I have been witnessing environmental genocide in politics and it only drives me to work harder to understand the world around me to better utilize my voice in democracy. I care about preserving every ecosystem--large or small--from the vast expanse of Florida's very own Everglades to the small lakes and creeks around town. My Independent Research Project might be about the destruction of the Everglades and the repercussions that it may have on Florida's inhabitants. The Everglades have been exploited for decades.

The sunrise in Daytona Beach, a common inspiration for my art. 

The Southeast Museum of Photography has an inspiring exhibit on the Everglades through February 4, 2017. Adam Nadel, the artist who created Getting the Water Right: The Culture and Politics of Water in the Everglades stated "the development of South Florida's coastal communities and agriculture has reduced the Everglades in size by half. Now, the ecosystem is at risk, threatening the region's water supply..." A link to the exhibit's information can be found here. I am still searching for my perfect role as an environmental scientist, the only thing I know for sure is that I am passionate about this field. A healthy environment means a clean, crisp place to paint. To picnic. To kayak. To swim. To share with our loved ones now, and our future generations later. More importantly, it means the difference between ecological collapse and sustaining Earth's populations.