Though most of my totems are desert themed, this commission enabled me to relive my scuba and snorkeling days in Bonaire and islands off Venezuela in the 1970’s. Unfortunately, now, reefs everywhere are dying from warming waters of human caused Climate Change.  Rather than sculpting bleached coral, I hope the beauty of this totem will inspire action, enabling reefs to someday return to their natural healthy state.

My approach was to sculpt a diving experience.  I created an imaginary vertical column of water starting with coral reefs and the life they support.  This is followed by seagrass beds and a seahorse, then upward past tropical reef fish where a Jellyfish floats near the surface, under a piling topped by a resting Brown Pelican.

I loved this project and hope to sculpt more from the sea.