With everyone heading to the sea on these hot days of early Summer, it seemed like an artist involved in the ecology of the sea is a timely subject. Such an artist is Courtney Mattison (1985-).
When she decided on her degree, it wasn't an "either or," it was a "yes" to both marine ecology and ceramic sculpture. (She holds a Master Degree in environmental studies and thesis credits at the Rhode Island School of Design.)
Mattison combined her interests in both Science and Art in a 5-part series titled, "Our Changing Seas." The series is exhibited so that viewers can experience the changes of the coral reefs from beautiful, colorful blooms to the bleaching of the coral reefs, and concludes with the hope found in certain places where they are trying their best to stem the direction of reef die-off and the attendant effect on a marine life.
In sculpting her sponges, anemones and coral, she uses clay and glazes which naturally contain calcium carbonate - the same mineral that forms the skeleton of the reef! She creates very large sculptures and places them vertically on the walls, so that viewers can experience the detail and beauty of a reef.
Upon closer inspection, some of the reefs begin to show the bleaching that signals the death of a reef. Yet, in her 5th series, she refers to the hope of humanity to step back from the destruction of these ancient life forms. (Mattison is shown in a couple of images for a sense of size of her sculptures.)
Mattison's commissioned works are extensive including a postage stamp for the UN's 50th anniversary of Earth Day.
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