Wild Life: Salmon

Wild Life: Salmon, 9" x 27"

I have been contemplating the tragic extinction of species and the curious arrival of new hybrid species as our climate changes and our world evolves.  Pacific salmon have had a rough ride in this story.  An incredible group of species, they are born and raised in freshwater, spend their adulthood in saltwater, and years later, return to their natal freshwater rivers and streams to start the next generation.

Historically, these salmon have thrived with annual runs in the millions.  However, in recent years many of the runs have exponentially declined.  The causes are many - destruction of habitat, overfishing, water diversion, climactic changes, to name a few.  Loss of these fish species would be devastating in and of itself. But, the environment is an incredibly complex mesh of interactions between species.  There is nothing that exists truly independently and most have an amazing number of connections to organisms.  Scientists in Washington state have identified over 130 species that have one or more relationships with Pacific salmon - from humans to bald eagles to macro invertebrates.  Loss of any species, will have reaching effects, some, farther than others.  So, this is my animal kingdom "Stitch in time…".  Saving one species, in turn, saves many.  Biodiversity is critical to everyone's future.

Wild Life: Salmon was a total surprise.  I started the piece with just this beautiful piece of linen.  On a visit with Diane Wright, I added some Japanese fabrics from her collection. I was sure it was going to become some sort of hand-stitched, contemporary sampler, but, miraculously, Salmon evolved. It is raw-edge appliqué with machine quilting and machine and hand embroidery.