In 2025 I was invited to participate in a show for muralists who were also alumni of the Art School. The theme was open and I chose to speak to the role that humans have played in the intentional extinction of species, and how we can learn from the past and work towards a more regenerative future. 

The Mourning Caracara is famous in ornithological circles for being one of the most stark examples of the complete eradication of another species by humans. As European settlers colonized the island of Guadalupe in Mexico, they saw this scavenger as a threat to their livestock and set out to exterminate this perceived (but deeply misguided) threat to their survival. Their stark appearance and complete lack of fear of humans led the settlers to believe they were evil spirits or demons. Because of our history with this bird, I find it to be a powerful representation of our troubled relations with our fellow creatures and a reminder of the way in which we often brutishly sever the delicate thread of life that connects all things.

This mural explores the complex relationships that we enter into with other creatures and highlights what happens when we let fear guide our decisions. It has a somber theme, but I hope it is seen as a warning that change is possible and the future can be a better place if we decide to learn from the mistakes of our past.