Peaceful Resilience

24”x30” mixed media on canvas 

beautiful float frame included (approx 1”)

Peaceful Resilience✨

The North Atlantic right whale is one of the world's most critically endangered large whale species. There are approximately only 380 remaining, with fewer than 70 breeding females. North Atlantic Right Whales were listed critically endangered in the 1970s due to commercial whaling and never recovered. Today, 80% of mortalities are caused by vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglement.

These beautiful creatures are the epitome of peace, vulnerability and resilience. They are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and Canada's Species at Risk Act.

In early 2026, NOAA fisheries published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking indicating the Trump administration's plan to revoke the mandatory 10-knot vessel speed restriction. This rule, which has been in place since 2008, requires vessels 65 feet or longer to slow down in designated "Seasonal Management Areas" along the East Coast to prevent fatal ship strikes. Additionally, the administration is moving forward with a broader legal reinterpretation of the Endangered Species Act that would eliminate protections against unintentional harm, which conservationists warn could gut safeguards for the species.

Sometimes it’s hard not to feel helpless when you see all that is going on around us - but then I am reminded how every small act can make a difference - and doing something is a hell of a lot better than doing nothing. The best place to start is by staying informed and using your voice. My art has always been a vessel to use my voice and protect those who don’t have one.