Ah, that cloud-forest view but much lower!
Poza Honda/Santa Ana/Portoviejo Ecuador – A year ago, the pristine early-morning view across Poza Honda equaled the beauty of Mindo’s cloud forest. “I’m in Manabi Province?” I thought while considering pinching myself to make sure this was not a dream.
The skies tightened their taps months ago, and this year’s dry season has been exceptionally dry. That dreamlike-view is still stunning, but the trees show signs of acute thirst. The abundance of last-year’s birds is quite low, and many are absent. The Scrub Blackbirds hog the banana feeders, and it is rare to see any other species drop in for breakfast. The Brown Wood Rails have been MIA for almost two months! I worry if I’m witnessing the beginnings of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring.
Nov 2018
Barbara has been here for a month, and there have been few days of sunshine; the visibility was low, and grayness tainted each day as if someone cast a light-dimming net over the skies. We wondered, “Is this some kind of fog, or is there a volcano spewing ash in the Andes, or is this some foreboding sign of the beginning of the apocalypse?”
All-day Gray
Between painting and varnishing and framing and delivering paintings to the museum – and then attending openings, we veered off the beaten path on three different occasions for a ‘Timeout from Art.” In all three directions, the end-of-dry season ‘landscape desecration’ was sobering.
Landowners through the province continue to clear small and large tracts of land or selective harvest certain species.
Saman trees
Is this the new ivory?
Plantings of teak, balsa and corn are harvested; with little regard to the parched landscape, many use old-fashioned methods to deal with the debris: they ignite it.
One of the paintings in the exposition is titled, “What’s Happening to My Planet?” It’s fun and whimsical, yet hopefully the Blue-footed Booby will also prompt others to ponder, “Shouldn’t we be more sensitive to those species who have no voice – and are worthy to live in their natural and untainted habitat?”
‘What’s Happening to my Planet?” Acrylic – $750.00 (Painted on Canvas, it can be shipped via tube when the exposition ends in mid January.)
The final image in the exposition is ‘The Muir Tree.’ A friend, whose family also owns large tracts of land, stated that it made her want to cry; “But,” she added, “We need this. People need to see this, Lisa.”
“The Muir Tree” (Acrylic) with John Muir’s quote in English and Spanish . (Thank you Steve Swartzman for the translation!)
“Any fool can destroy trees. They cannot run away; and if they could,they would still be destroyed – chased and hunted down as long as fun or a dollar could be got out of their bark hides, branching horns, or magnificent bole backbones. ”
Cualquier idiota puede destruir árboles. No se pueden escapar; y aun si lo pudieran, todavía serían destruidos— perseguidos y cazados siempre que uno lograra divertirse o extraer un dólar de sus pellejosde corteza,de sus cuernos enramados, o de las magníficas columnas vertebrales que son sus troncos.” John Muir 1838 – 1914
“How come the most intellectual creature to ever walk Earth is destroying its only home?” Jane Goodall
“Let Us Pray”
Interested in other images in the show? My art website shows six for sale: Experimenting with Online Options
Zeebra Designs & Destinations 
Of course your show would do more than just showcase your beautiful art and wonderful talent. I should have guessed, Lisa, that you would use any opportunity to try to open eyes and turn hearts to conservation and preservation. I wish that everyone could see the value that you do in nature, and that all of us worked as hard to save it! Your work shines ever stronger, with its message!
You are so kind, Cindy, and you would be trying to help as well – if you were here – or were witnessing the changes. For our world’s sake, I hope that the leaders wake up and tighten the laws on preserving what’s left.
What are we leaving for grandchilden?
You are so right, and what are they going to say – well I suppose all generations can find where people have gone wrong, and also right. May we find a way to awaken more people.
Thanks, Don, and I see there’s a new post – I look forward to reading it when I get home. Almost finished with this cyber session!
We all need to take action to preserve our planet. It’s rapidly reaching the critical stages and we must respond or face extinction.
Thank you, and yes,I think that more people are starting to realize that this is not ‘fake’ news – all it takes is to look at the landscape/the weather and see that something’s not right with this picture. Thank you so much!
Sobering to say the least. Paradise being destroyed in front of our eyes, by our own hand.
I inhale and sigh deeply. You would be helping as well – if you were here. Thank you!
😦 😦 😦
I love the booby!
A.
|You make me laugh! So glad that you do, and of course you would!
Many of us have given little thought to our only home (Earth) except in retrospect.
It is greater than just sad, it is abominable.
The artwork is amazing and truly beautiful! Not only
capturing the eye but the mind as well.
You are gifted with many talents. Love and blessings, Eddie
Thank you, Eddie. One painting at a time, and perhaps every so often, one will help make a difference!
Wow, powerful message Lisa, thank you for speaking out , to let others know, what is happening. The art is amazing, hugs
I noted some of our beloved Ceibos are missing between the ‘Cruzita’ turnoff and Manta… was there last week and was so saddened to see that area felled – most likely for more crops.
Thank you Lisa for a powerful post. Artists allow us to see the need, to recognize the peril and to embrace our responsibility. You words are a call to action. Hugs and much gratitude for continuing to inspire us all!
And thanks to you for being there in the cheering section, helping me as I sort through the self-doubt about ‘do I write/whine or not?’ Gracias!
Such a stark contrast between the lush forest and the dry forest. It’s so sad to see what we are doing to our planet. Thank you for showing us the changes you have seen over the years. The blue footed booby is a beautiful painting!
Thank you, and I’m glad you like the booby! Hopefully iit gives your heart a smile, as you definitely deserve it.
Congratulations again on the show, Lisa. It’s terrible to see the cutting and burning….the Jane Goodall quote asks a penetrating question….and I hope the gray you’ve been seeing is a passing phenomenon. Only time will tell, meanwhile, I appreciate your voice in the wilderness.
I fear the gray is the smoke, which continues.. Yesterday someone across the lake burned a just-cut area, and the flames morphed as it jumped up the dry area… and then a few hours later, the haze found its way to the other side of the lake. Today there were two big fires between ‘home’ and this cyber, about a 20-minute drive.
Yes, the wilderness needs every spokesperson it can get… Jane Goodall is a good one, as most everyone knows her name.
It’s hard reading your words, because I know clearing land like that is a big problem in tropical locations. Sigh. I’m glad you stay strong and positive. Take care of yourself, OK?
I agree with you friend; people need to see this. Indeed what are we doing with our planet? And how long can we continue the demolition?
Thank you Otto; that same friend wrote this past week to say that her aunt had visited the exhibit and was telling her about it.. and my friend said, ‘She’s my friend!’
The slash and burns continue, so distressing…
I see you have a new post; it’s open, and I’ll read it when I get home.
You did a great job morphing the tree into the stag, or the stag into the tree, or both.
That’s indeed a whimsical portrait of the blue-footed booby. You should have that image on a line of posters and cards.
Your gray atmospheric views remind me of our trip last year to Glacier National Park and the Canadian Rockies. Smoke from forest fires hung in the air for much of the time that we were up there.
The smoke was really bad yesterday; someone across the reservoir cut and burned a section of their land. Several hours later the smoke found its way across the water. Grrrrrrrrrr.
|You might enjoy watching the many faces of that Muir Tree before its true face was revealed. |Or perhaps it’s hiding behind a mask?
Now I remember commenting on that post from 2017. Hard to believe it’s been a year and a half since then.
Worrisome, not enough effort/actions….Thank you for the post.
Si, I struggle with staying silent or speaking up… neither does much good if there’s no solution… but those who have no voice certainly need someone to speak up… so I do…
I love the tree with the stag. Gorgeous! I hope your exhibition goes well and people come away with a heightened appreciation for nature.
Thank you Emilie. The show is going well, and the feedback has been good. A friend wrote to say that her aunt was talking about visiting the exhibit, and my friend said, ‘She’s my friend!’ The world is small sometimes!
Indeed Lisa what is happening to our Planet. So many weather pattern changes now, not to mention orbital phenomena when you start to look into our alignment, and the moon.
Loved your Acrylic painting of the same name above.. And loved your Whimiscal Blue-footed Booby.. Such detail too in your background.
The Muir Tree is just so special,
And loved the quote.. “Any fool can destroy trees. They cannot run away; and if they could, they would still be destroyed – chased and hunted down as long as fun or a dollar could be got out of their bark hides, branching horns, or magnificent bole backbones.”
There seems to be a war on trees. Cutting them down in our cities greenbelts here in England. And the amount gone up in flames this year around the world is astronomical. With the fires in the USA and then in Australia. ..
Loved your post and enjoying my catch up again.