This work is an expression of both sadness and hope, centered around the near extinction of the American Bison. In the second half of the 19th century we killed tens of millions of them, leaving less than 1,000 alive. In my piece the peasant girl on the TV screen, who is being left behind by a wedding party, is a symbol for how they were left behind and almost forgotten. There is also a woman in his horn emptying a pitcher of water which flows and becomes a river - a metaphor for overwhelming tears and sadness.

But in the last 30-40 years there has been a huge effort to preserve and rebuild the wild bison population. The total population is now up to about 360,000 but most of those are raised for commercial purposes. The number in wild roaming herds is only about 31,000. But this is better than where we were, and there is hope for continued progress! In the piece this hope comes across in a couple of ways: the flowers - the crown on his head, and then the ones across his lower back and his foot. Also, the home plans in the mountains represent a rebuilding of a home in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains out west.

Beyond the story of the bison, I also think the themes of loss and restoration can extend to our forests, our rivers, our oceans, and our entire planet. With hope still playing an important part. And on a smaller scale these ideas funnel down into our own personal stories as well. We all know loss. We all move forward.

No Loss Forgotten is 48” x 60” x 1.5” and was created with acrylic paint and collage. Please be aware of my note about shipping on the Original Artwork main page.