Phoenix Garcia
UNDERGRADUATE, VISUAL Art STUDIES
Not For Sale
wood, clay, mason jars, fabric, acrylic paint, water from different bodies of water
Not For Sale, depicts a market stand which displays changes one can expect to see in our markets in the near future. The cheery blue color of the stand and containers in this non-functioning stand represent artificial, chemically saturated waters. Fabric paintings of popular fish species, those commonly found in markets, are hung out to dry. The threat to fish populations contributes to decreasing biodiversity. Species such as the bluefin tuna, halibut, cod, haddock, and blue shark are some of the most overfished species in our oceans. Harmful bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli, and even cholera, affect fish in nearby waters and can infect humans who eat these fish. Of the countless manmade pollutants that seep into our water sources, over twenty different pesticides have been identified. The declining number of fish hurts the balance of other organisms in their ecosystem, impacts our food security, and changes how we weigh our options for consumption. I hope that this piece will inspire the viewer to think of our waters and consider how humans are both the perpetrators and the victims of our dwindling food security.
