Biophilia
(DE)COLONIAL HOUSE
18” x 24”
Acrylic on wood panel
San Luis Obispo - and the rest of southern California - had a love affair with Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in the 1920s / 1930s. In my neighborhood, there are so many unique and beautiful homes and the home in this painting is no exception. However, due to the colonialism of California, I also find the history of these home styles rather complicated. In this painting I am reimagining what it could look like with all California native plants - many of these plants I have seen on our walks in our neighborhood - poppies cutting through the pavement, Laurel sumac on the side of the freeway underpass, red currants by the park, and the chaparral yucca in Poly canyon just a short drive away. I like the idea of redeeming the history of colonialism through bringing back the original habitants of this land we call home in Northern Chumash territory.
ARTIST’S HOUSE
18” x 24”
Acrylic on wood panel
We found our rental in SLO the week before the entire state went into lockdown. To say this house has been a life saver during the pandemic and then with a newborn is an understatement. I recently planted California native plants all over the slope in the rugged backyard. Some would ask why i’m even bothering to plant them if it’s a rental. Well, in every single place I’ve lived I try to make it better than when we first moved in. This painting represents the vision I have of this house — in it’s spanish colonial style — to be restored to its native state. To plant plants that bring habitat to our local animals & insects. To have a home teeming with life so perfectly adapted to where we live. This home has ushered our family into our new life here in SLO and I’m forever grateful for this place.
matilija’s house
18” x 24”
Acrylic on wood panel
Look closely and you will see the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa tucked behind various California native plants that are currently in bloom. The missions of California have an incredibly complicated history — how redemptive would it be to plant only California native plants in every single mission all over the state? It would truly be a dedicated effort to reconcile and resurrect the loss of plant and animal habitat as well as culture and way of life of the indigenous people of California. This painting is a celebration of accepting the history of the land beneath our feet and the active effort it takes to celebrate and honor the original stewards and habitants of this land — including the Chumash chief Matilija who the flower Matilija poppies are named after.
California native plants in bloom: Matiljia poppies / Romneya coulteri, Island Mallow / Malva assurgentiflora, Ceanothus
