Georgia Sea Grant Awarded

I am honored to share that I have been selected as a recipient of the 2026-27 Artists, Writers and Scholars (AWS) Award from Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant!

This program supports creative projects that raise awareness of Georgia’s marine and coastal environments, and I am thrilled to be returning for my second project funded through this wonderful initiative.

You can read the official announcement and learn more about the award here.

Introducing Micro-Undercurrents

For this grant cycle, I am developing a new multidisciplinary installation, Micro-Undercurrents. This project explores the often-invisible world of plankton ecology along the Georgia coastline.

By integrating scientific datasets, microscopic and macrophotography, cyanotypes, drawings, and paintings, I am constructing a layered visual narrative of our marine environments. The goal is to make the unseen visible through dramatic shifts in scale and material experimentation.

Ultimately, I want to invite viewers into a world beyond ordinary perception that is foundational to ocean health. I hope this art creates an entry point for curiosity, encouraging audiences to slow down, look closely, and recognize that these vital ecosystems are worth researching and protecting.

The Power of Collaboration

A project of this scale and scientific depth would not be possible without collaborators.

I am partnering directly with Dr. Adam Greer and the ZERO-C Lab at the University of Georgia’s Skidaway Institute of Oceanography. Dr. Greer is providing high-resolution in situ biological imaging of zooplankton across the Georgia shelf edge. We are taking this vital oceanographic data and transforming it into an immersive art experience.

I am also working with collaborating artist Adam Sprague. Adam is handling the specialized video compositing, animation, and technical project support necessary to translate my layered physical artworks and Dr. Greer's motion imaging into massive, non-standard architectural formats.

Finally, I’d like to give a special thank you to Charles Cousin, founder of Bellamare, for consulting with me regarding the In Situ Ichthyoplankton Imaging System (ISIIS) of their design, which in use at the ZERO-C Lab.

The 2026-27 AWS Cohort

I am so proud to be exhibiting alongside an inspiring group of artists who are all using their unique voices to highlight the connections between people and place along the Georgia coast. I encourage you to explore their upcoming projects as well:

• Linda Duvoisin - Award-winning documentary filmmaker creating "Every Thursday Morning," a film about the dedicated community scientists monitoring phytoplankton in coastal waters.
• Alan Harvey - Biologist and artist utilizing unconventional photographic techniques like anthotypes and chloroprints to explore the complicated relationship between humans and nature.
• Mary Johnson - Artist and professor creating "Tidal Confluence," an installation of large-scale cyanotypes and cast-glass forms focused on Ulva macroalgae.
• Larissa McPherson - Jeweler transforming ethically sourced animal bones and collected plastic waste into sculptural jewelry to visualize the impacts of pollution on coastal wildlife.

Thank you, as always, for following along on this journey. I cannot wait to share more updates as Micro-Undercurrents comes to life over the next year!

Acknowledgement Statement

This project was supported by the University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s Artists, Writers and Scholars Program, with funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.