A Playground of Life

Artist Statement: Living in a coastal city, the ocean is an immense part of my life. Exploring beaches and boating with my family, I have been fortunate enough to experience the vast ecosystem of my home’s waters. This garment is inspired by that experience. A Playground of Life was made with cotton fabric stamped with various sea creatures that are part of my home’s ecosystem, Including the humpback whale, orca, harbor seal, pink salmon, king salmon, trout, halibut, rockfish, giant Pacific octopus, lion’s mane jellyfish, and kelp (algae). The pattern of the garment takes inspiration from the traditional Japanese haori. On the print of all the stamps, each creature is roughly placed based on its habitat range in the ocean.