“Oxpecker & Juniper” 
(graphite, charcoal, watercolor)
5" x 5" (framed)

Created for the show "Love" at the Los Angeles County Store, and since this piece was made specifically for that show I thought I would give you some context. An Oxpecker is a species of bird endemic to the savanna and Sub-Saharan Africa. They graze on the bodies of large mammals and feed on ectoparasites. Originally this was believed to be a symbol of mutualism, or a symbiotic relationship, but there is now some debate over whether the bird may be a parasite itself. I felt that the complexity of this relationship was fitting for the theme of love. The Juniper is incorporated because I enjoy the smell of the plant and it reminds me of spending summers in Colorado as a child, a pleasant memory.