The allure of the outdoors holds a long-time fascination. I coveted rocks as a child followed by birds’ nests, wasps’ nests, and seashells. I began collecting bark as an adult on my morning walks without an idea of what was to become of it. Seen as detritus by some, bark is arrestingly beautiful to me. Coating it and creating sculptures with changes it from the familiar into the unknown and gives the fragile a sense of permanence. I want viewers to see it as jewel-like and intriguing. There is much beauty in our natural environment that goes unnoticed, unappreciated, or worse, taken for granted and abused. My work is intended to ignite awareness of our diminishing natural resources and the fraying relationship humans have with our natural world.