Artinua Arts: The Aviary Art Show : 3 : "Wetlands : Esprit du Corps?"

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*This post is the third in The Aviary Art Show series of paintings and posts, from the Aviary Art Gallery" of wild bird paintings at Artinua.Org .*

The annual preparations for 'the Atlantic hurricane season' are a way of life for those who live, work and volunteer along vulnerable coastal areas. Part of that preparedness depends upon the lessons learned from prior experiences; experiences which have shown themselves to be a poor match for the most recent cycle of stronger, super-sized hurricanes. As the trends toward larger, more powerful and more frequent hurricanes become apparent, residents along the Gulf Coast of the United States have come to depend on man-made interventions and protections as replacements for the natural protections that are disappearing at an alarming rate.

Fortunately, both individuals and governments have become increasingly aware of the importance of coastal restoration to the protection of people and property. The question, as sea levels rise, is if it is too little too late. Hopefully the preservation of wetlands will become essential parts of the decision-making process at all levels. Until then, many along the Gulf Coast brace themselves in uneasy anticipation each hurricane season, prepared to evacuate, watchful of the weather, hoping for the best and mindful of the worst that can and has happened, and, ultimately, depending on the protection of the levees and other flood-control structures that failed them in the past.

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Title : Wetlands : Esprit du Corps?

Media : Oil on canvas, found-object sculpture

Artist : Victoria John (Ritterbush)

Description: Two great blue herons stand together in a rainy wetland setting as the sun sets and a storm approaches on the horizon. In keeping with the themes of environmental protection and disaster recovery this artwork is painted on a recycled canvas from a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. The sculptural frame includes recycled and salvaged materials, including antique cypress barge boards.