· Upstream ·
Upstream is a site-specific, outdoor installation that explores the migration patterns of freshwater fish in Michigan and their response to climate change–particularly the increasing trend of species spawning further and further north each spring. Fish species are highly sensitive to temperature and often require specific conditions for spawning. As water temperatures rise, species like salmon and trout are migrating to higher latitudes and deeper waters. Additionally, the timing of their spawning is closely linked to environmental cues, such as water temperature and river flow, which can misalign with fish reproductive cycles and available food sources.
Stirred by this research, this installation was created as a mobile made from early fish illustrations found in summer reports from the Mackinac region in 1882, as well as a field photo postcard of “Roaring River Trout” in Grayling, Michigan. These antiquity inclusions offer a haunting reflection amongst the decline of spawning. By incorporating historical context, the mobile not only highlights proof of once-thriving species, but also underscores the unsettling reality of climate change's impact on these freshwater cycles.
Each paper fish element is coated in protective beeswax and positioned upward, simulating the direction of swimming. Accompanying the mobile is a plant-dyed, sheer textile, evoking the color and shape of an active stream. Designed to engage with both the surrounding landscape and the mobile, the textile periodically overlaps with the fish to mimic the leap of motion created when swimming upstream. Documented above the Battle Creek River—where I recall witnessing the spawning of brown trout as a teenager—the installation hovers above the currents where their upstream journey would traditionally occur. This outdoor placement invites viewers to engage with the effects of their shifting environment, fostering awareness of the challenges facing Michigan’s rivers and streams and the fish that rely on them.
· Infinite Inland ·
Infinite Inland is a collective word map that blends together harmonious and contrasting language into a poetic collaboration, reflecting the emotions and experiences that draw both locals and visitors to the Great Lakes. This project grew from my community engagement initiative with the Artist’s Way Project, inviting participants to share their favorite aspects of the Great Lakes. Each response was hand written on plexiglass and transported into Lake Michigan, where the words mirrored the landscape in real-time. The process created a unique visual effect, with the illusion of each word appearing to float in a window of active waves and bringing the shared experiences to life.
As an artist whose creative process is often introspective and personal, typically confined to a controlled environment, Infinite Inland was an opportunity to expand my creative boundaries and engage with a broader community perspective. It allowed me to connect beyond my own dots, transforming individual experiences into an expression of collective gratitude for the incredible bodies of water that surround Michigan. This work stands as both a celebration of the Great Lakes and a reminder of how the environment shapes, and is shaped by, the communities it sustains.
