Inspired by the endemic reindeer I encountered and the beautiful ice cave I explored on Svalbard during my residency at the Spitsbergen Artist Center in Longyearbyen, Svalbard. “Precious” challenges what we find to be of value and worth attention. While the diamonds are beautiful, they are not more so than the reindeer or the ice formations. If anything they pale in comparison to the artistry of nature and the life-force of a wild animal. When I explored the ice cave I remember thinking that it was like a cave full of diamonds, only more beautiful and precious because of it’s ephemeral and natural qualities.

“Precious” explores our priorities and what we value and consider to have worth. If we prioritized and valued nature the way we do material things, the world would be far better off.

The volume of ice in the Arctic has decreased by a third over the past twenty years, and the rate of decrease is accelerating. Climate scientists have suggested that by 2040, the arctic could experience an ice-free summer.

Original 16”x20” pen, watercolor, and acryl-gouache drawing