Lyn and I at my table at the first Tropic Bound Artist Book FairI met artist extraordinaire Gloribel Delgado Esquilín from Puerto RicoA powerful story of not having the chance to say goodbye to your mother by GloribelIan Kahn of Lux Mentis, Tiana Krahn, Gloribel Delgado Esquilín and me at the welcome partyArtist Golnar Adili and director of Women’s Studio Workshop, Lauren V. Walling
Special shout out to co-directors of Tropic Bound Cristina Favretto, Ingrid Schindall (pictured) and Sarah Michelle Rupert for all their hard work in organizing such a vibrant artist book fair in Miami!
It was very special getting to see artist Cristina Victor, 10 years after meeting her on a Signal Fire backpacking trip where the seed for creating Owed to The Mountain was planted!
Cristina and Eduardo
The BIGGEST THANK YOU to Lyn for taking this adventure with me. It was an incredible sister trip! Her enthusiasm for my artwork, generosity of her time, and gift of her love made the experience truly special!
We saw the sunriseWatched diving pelicans!!
The Bodhi wishtree is the centerpiece at Upper Buena Vista. Lyn and I found this special place on our walk from our hotel to the Design District. We had the best coffee at Finca’s Coffee. Coffee beans grown in Honduras! Bartender Chris Rolan made the most delicious cocktails we had ever tried!
Walking the nature trail near Shark Valley Visitor Center in the Everglades National Park with naturalist guide Ben from Wild Lime Adventures
Keystone species!! Alligators create habitat for a biodiverse ecosystem.
We took an airboat ride from Robert of the Miccosukee Tribe in the Tribal lands of the Miccosukee. “river of grass”
The Everglades is a very special place and I hope to return and spend more time visiting different regions. From my short exposure to this unique landscape I understand that water is the lifeblood of the Everglades. We witnessed so much biodiversity–we were awe struck. I appreciated the opportunity to visit the Tribal lands of the Miccosukee. The Miccosukee were originally part of the Creek Nation, and migrated to Florida before it became part of the United States. During the Indian Wars of the 1800s, most of the Miccosukee were removed to the West, but about 100, mostly Mikasuki-speaking Creeks, never surrendered and hid out in the Everglades. Their understanding of the Everglades was not shared by non-Native settlers who built dams, floodgates, roads, levees, and canals. Invasive plants and animal species have taken over areas and agriculture and industry pollution have had devastating effects on the fragile ecosystem. Climate change is also taking a toll. The Everglades National Park was created in 1947, but outside its borders people waged war on this wetland. Today the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan is working to mimic the historic natural flow of the water. Early results are encouraging–but much education, protection, and restoration is still needed. Environmental activist Marjory Stonemason Douglas dedicated her long life (she lived to be 108) to preserving the Everglades and its interconnected ecosystems.
