In my hometown, the surrounding Sleeping Bear Dunes is an integral part of my life and art practice. The local legends of this natural environment has granted a fascination with black bears. They have always been my favorite animal and are environmentally incredible. It’s interesting to evaluate the environment of these black bears in order to really understand how they live in Northern Michigan and how the environment impacts their diet post-hibernation. This project allows viewers to better understand the interconnectedness of the natural environment. A plant is not just a plant, it is a food source, shelter, tool, etc.

This project is based on the field guides of plants, known as a florilegium. This florilegium follows the diet of a Michigan Black Bear from spring to Winter. The main inspiration for this project was my hometown of Leland Michigan, and the surrounding Sleeping Bear Dunes. My family runs a boating company, in which the surrounding Sleeping Bear Dunes national park is an integral part of my life and art practice. The name and local legends of this natural environment has granted a fascination with black bears, and they have always been my favorite animal and are environmentally incredible. I thought it would be interesting to evaluate the environment of these black bears in order to really understand how they live in Northern Michigan and how the environment impacts their diet post-hibernation. I wanted to better understand these creatures in the context of my home’s environment, as they are rarely seen there. I think that from this project, I better understand the interconnectedness of the natural environment, between animal and plant. How these beings interact in order to survive, and flourish. A plant is not just a plant, it is a food source, shelter, tool, etc. I could definitely imagine doing more of these projects for different creatures, as understanding the interdependence of the natural world and how our actions can act as a domino effect in these ecosystems, is so important to understand.