Fresh off a flight from Aotearoa, New Zealand, with little time to overcome jet lag, I launched directly into my latest project for the City of Bothell's Sustainamania festival.

This low-relief, collaborative art piece is more than just artwork; it's a call to action—a visual manifesto urging us to confront our legacy of plastic pollution. The crow, crafted from upcycled and painted plastic bottles and other materials, symbolizes our current reality of plastic pollution— plastic in the ocean, plastic in our bodies, plastic in even the most remote corners of the earth.

Weaving Our Future

Participants of all ages joined me to add their sustainability commitments to the nest. Using upcycled fabric strips, each person wrote a pledge, then wove their promise into the nest. This interactive process was about more than just crafting an art piece; it was about stitching together the diverse threads of our community into a unified tapestry of change. Scroll down to see an image gallery from the event.

Some of the commitments include:

• Making Bothell High School Sustainable!

• Host community events.

• Use less single-use plastic.

• Working towards Race and Gender equality Across the Board.

• Restore our natural environment.

• Protect ALL Children.

• Advancing Human Rights.

• Slow Fasion.

• Raise a Compassionate Son.

Echoes from the Community

The engagement was profound. As the crow's nest thickened with pledges, stories about local crows—icons of Bothell—enriched the experience. As many as 16,000 crows roost in the wetlands of UW Bothell each night. Many residents spoke of a special relationship with an individual crow and considered them friends. Others were trying to develop relations with crows. People spoke of leaving trinkets for them, and how the crows would take them to someone else and return other found treasures in their place. These tales all shared a mutual respect that underscores the symbiotic relationship between our local wildlife and us, emphasizing the impact of our environmental choices.

“The epitome of the Climate Action Venn Diagram."
-Crows with a Cawse Partricipant

Reflections and Revelations

As I stepped back to admire the completed work, the intertwined fabric strips reminded me of the power of collective action. The artwork stood as a testament to Bothell’s commitment to sustainability, echoed in the voice of one participant who described it as “The epitome of the climate action Venn diagram."

Sustainamania was not just a festival. Hosting Crows with a Cawse alongside a Repair Cafe, plus local organizations, vendors, music, artisans and more, it was a reaffirmation of our potential to initiate change. The enthusiastic participation and heartfelt pledges added to Crows with a Cawse demonstrated the community's readiness to tackle environmental and social challenges head-on. This project, though rooted in Bothell, sends ripples across our perceptions, urging us to think globally.

A Continuing Journey

"Crows with a Cawse" will be installed in Bothell’s City Hall in the new year, where it will be a beacon of hope and a reminder of our shared responsibilities. It's a narrative woven by many, telling the story of a community eager to engage, protect, and cherish their.

Engage with Art

Are you interested in creating an interactive art installation for your organization? Let’s discuss how we can bring a similar transformative experience to your community. I’m currently booking engagements for 2025 and 2026. Click here to schedule a call with me and start the journey.