SURPRISE ENCOUNTER by Mary Ellen Gerster

SURPRISE ENCOUNTER by Mary Ellen Gerster

What a delight to be greeted by this magnificent Green Sea Turtle, a true ancient mariner, on a coral reef off the Maui coast. My connection to the Honu, Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle, began with seeing them sunning on the beach in Waikoloa Bay, on the Big Island of Hawaii. From that first encounter, painting a sea turtle is a true reflection of my admiration and pure respect for their peaceful beauty. In order to have balanced, sustainable, equitable, and abundant communities in 100 years, enabling the survival of species such as the sea turtle, it is no longer enough to be just sustainable today. We need to compensate for existing environmental issues, not by minimizing our negative impact but by maximising our positive. My vision for the future sees the regeneration of nature, with nature’s balance restored in our environment, ‘healing our relationships with earth and each other’. Witnessing these magnificent Green Sea Turtles in the ocean, basking on sun-drenched beaches, while nesting or baby turtles scurrying from a nest is pure magic. When you visit a place with sea turtles nesting or in the water, local communities and the turtles benefit through our presence and awareness. When we see baby seals and sea turtles entangled in plastics or whales dead on the beach with stomachs full of plastic, the undeniable cause is our disconnect with nature. Climate change, pollution, overexploitation and fishing, and invasive species are the biggest threats our oceans are facing. Change can only be achieved through the changing of laws and policies, hands-on conservation, public education and mobilization. We need to implement these changes now, in order for future generations to have the luxury of environmental sustainability.

If you are interested in purchasing a piece of work by this artist, the artist will retain 100% of the sale proceeds from any of their work sold through this exhibit.

MARY ELLEN GERSTER
www.artforyourhome.ca