Patchwork Ecology

Originally exhibited at the Paquette Gallery (Salida, Colorado) in March 2024, this series of pen and ink drawings explores the ecological richness of the San Luis Valley through the visual language of quilt making. Each piece in Patchwork Ecology is inspired by a specific location in the San Luis Valley, such as Bennet Peak or Lookout Mountain, and features plant and animal species I’ve come to know and love in those places.

Using the structure of traditional quilt patterns, I stitched together visual elements that reflect the unique ecological character of each site. The resulting works are part field journal, part natural history illustration, and part tribute to place. Each “patch” becomes a window into a distinct ecosystem, revealing the biodiversity found across the Valley’s varied landscapes.