THE INVISIBLE

It began April 9th, 2019, the day was clear and cool with a moderate breeze; my best-friend Matt and I traveled to the Interpretive Center of Hayward for a peaceful walk on the trail and a hopeful bout of inspiration. I hadn’t chosen my point of focus for this upcoming art show and was deeply conflicted. While walking and discussing my new journey into Buddhism, I noticed a point deep in the trail, where we’re surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the San Mateo Bridge and the inland area of Hayward and never heard the oppressive noise of cars. Only the lively songs of the many bird species, the rushing of ocean waves and crisp air whoosh on by. As we stood enjoying nature’s symphony, I noticed an abundance of green-blue algae on top of the marsh near by and reflected upon how unique and beautiful algae-blooms appeared. Then, like a bolt of lightning, inspiration for The Invisible struck. 

During the research phase of The Invisible, I became infatuated with how breath-taking algae-blooms appeared on top of water and thus began to uncover the insidious nature of these clusters. Phytoplankton is not only an organism that feeds marine life, it also acts as Earth’s built in hepa filter, cleansing the very air we breathe. As humans progress through rapid urbanization, we have also begun affecting the natural ecosystem around us. Increased air pollution has begun decreasing Phytoplankton’s ability to adequately cleanse the air and sustain marine life, thus resulting in Harmful Algae-Blooms. Harmful Algae-Blooms can be found on many bodies of water. Not only can these blooms appear in the typical greenish blue hue, they can also appear blood-red, better known as “Red Tide”. These clusters can easily cause unforeseen devastation to humans and animals. Not only did I emotionally fall victim to the gorgeous color fields of the blooms, they also serve as a reminder of the monumental task of preserving and protecting our planet.