Oil Spill

Risking our environment

After the Oil Spill
12" x 15" oil on sealed pine wood board
sketch

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There is a lot of talk lately about the Keystone Pipeline, Kinder Mountain Pipeline, and going back a bit to the Gulf of Mexico disaster, etc, etc, etc. Here is the quandary: North American governments want to become more independent of middle east oil supplies, so oil sources within our continent are being sought out and developed. I could go on needlessly about the reasons but thats getting off topic. My point here is that need it or not there is an underlying issue which rears its ugly head well after the politics is done and the actual pipeline is carrying oil to cities and ports and crossing over and through our pristine wilderness and mountain ranges. That is the threat and certain occasion of a pipeline leak or spill. 
Call me a pessimist. cup half full, what ever you like, the fact remains that despite guarantee's and assurances from big oil money that safe guards are in place, there will be, not may be, WILL be spills, leaks and ruptures for one reason or another. 
Then ht ugly monster raises it's head. Media pictures of wildlife wriggling in the oil soaked mud, streams black and blue in the mid day sun from the oily film floating all over the surface. Fish along shorelines, birds laying on their sides gasping for air. 
From this artists point of view the landscape itself is impacted for years to follow. The damage to the streams, lakes, ponds and surrounding vegetation, conifers, berries, etc, etc, is just horrendous. 
Not to mention who will eventually be saddled with the cost of clean up. 
I painted this painting in contemplation of such devastation. I intend it as a reminder of what can happen in our quest for resource. What price are we willing to pay?
RM