Rotary Furnace
Ender K.
Watercolor paints and Micron pens
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If you've lived in San José for a little while, you might recognize this painting/drawing of a mercury refinement furnace nestled in Quicksilver park. This, and others like it, were officially closed in 1976. While an essential part of the gold rush and gold refinement processes, these structures leaked toxic mercury into local ecosystems and bodies of water flowing as far as the bay. I wanted to capture this structure because I found its decay to be an inspiring form of rebellion against its past. The wooden beams are corroded, the pipes rusted, the fences overgrown with grasses. I used vibrant watercolors and irregular, wild line work to show how the land has reclaimed the site. It speaks to me as a testament to the fact that nothing we do or make will last forever; which is why it is important to consider what we do and make on Earth.
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Creativity means disregarding what anybody else thinks and making something that makes you happy. I struggled with being creative for a while-because I made the kind of art I thought other people wanted to see-but learning to look for what makes me feel inspired has grown me more than anything.
