I was extremely honored to be selected for the 2025 Noisy Waters Mural Festival, where this piece was awarded Grand Prize. 

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During my initial design process for this mural, I thought "I don't want to do a Salmon mural. EVERYBODY does a Salmon mural." But as I spent time camping on the Skagit River, I started to read more and more about the ecosystem types of the Pacific Northwest. Coniferous forests, riparian riversides, temperate rainforests, oceanic tidal zones—no matter where I went, there was Salmon! 

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As a Michigander, I realized I was harboring some resentment toward Salmon, who were introduced in the Great Lakes and have had adverse effects on our native species. But here in the Pacific Northwest, in their native range, Salmon are not only welcome—they're vital. 

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I was humbled to learn that salmon are the keystone species, the backbone of the entire region, the star of the show! From orcas to cedars, Salmon connect and unite virtually every single form of life in the Pacific Northwest.

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Species include: Sockeye Salmon, Steller Sea Lion, Double-crested Cormorant, Orca, Bald Eagle, Acorn Barnacle, Bull Kelp, Douglas Fir, & Western Red Cedar.