“Indicator species” are those that offer specific clues about the environment they are in, usually pertaining to the health of a particular ecosystem. We were deep in the forest at the Ridge when I first heard Angie (Senior Conservation Ecologist at the GTRLC) use the term, and my ears perked up. We had just come upon an adorable patch of Dwarf Equisetum when she noted that its presence in this patch of forest indicated a healthy ecosystem. Slowly, all over the forest floor, I began to see these indicator species as little flags. They lit up like lighthouses, tiny beacons of hope in the shadowed dark of the forest. In this increasingly heavy and lightless world, I thought, could anything be more hopeful? 

When I was approached by the GTRLC to collaborate on this project with them centered around the Ridge, I knew it was going to be a true dream job. Working closely with a team of scientists, I was able to understand the intricacies of this important swath of land they have recently conserved, a true honor. I took very seriously my task of visually representing their mission, and nothing seemed more appropriate and worthy of my focus than these brave indicator species. I worked with Angie to determine which of them may have thrived on this land in the past, which may be present on the Ridge now, and which she hopes to see there in the future. 

In the end, I mean for these pieces to represent a timeless but sanguine representation of life on the Ridge. Instead of portraits, these are my dreams of these landscapes. Here, Goldenrod and Bee Balm dance together overlooking the bay, Trillium and Violets sparkle under a twinkling canopy, Meadowsweet and Dogwood bow to each other in the mysterious swale. Lupine and Pine Drops stand proud and tall as sentinels showing us what’s possible, candles illuminating the way.