Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill #2 - Art about Disaster

"Spilt Oil with Sheen," 2010, encaustic techniques on board, ~8 x 8 inches. Art inspired by photos of the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Crisis. $105

This post was originally published on May 9th, 2011
From today's news on National Public Radio's website:

"...The task [of plugging the oil leak] became increasingly urgent as toxic oil crept deeper into the bays and marshes of the Mississippi Delta.

A sheen of oil began arriving on land last week, and crews have been laying booms, spraying chemical dispersants and setting fire to the slick to try to keep it from coming ashore. But now the thicker, stickier goo — arrayed in vivid, brick-colored ribbons — is drawing ever closer to Louisiana's coastal communities.
The Coast Guard and BP said Saturday about 2.1 million gallons of an oil-water mix had been collected, with about 10 percent being oil and the rest water. More than 160 miles of boom to contain the oil has been put out and crews have used nearly 275,000 gallons of chemicals to break up the oil on the water's surface."
Andy and I enjoyed the beach yesterday. The whole day was beautiful and sad because I kept thinking about how this summer and the years to come are ruined for so many. Pray. Praying hard while the photos from the entire ordeal have me riveted.
Two interesting websites about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, besides NPR:  They are 

1. Questions and Answers about the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf Coast and
2. MOTE Marie Laboratory

Update for 2021: 
It was 10 years ago that the oil spill happened...and I still think of 2011 with a lot of joy and stress, lol. That was a year of exploring the art medium of encaustics, which I stopped using after moving homes and getting married to Andy. When I picked up encaustics again in September, 2012, I found I lost my “touch” with it. The last encaustic painting I did is now hanging in Isabel’s home. My encaustic supplies are mostly sold away. I’m super happy using acrylic paints, but using encaustics was a really good experience. 

If you’d like this piece, please email me at [email protected]