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that can offer solutions to the coral reef crisis.
Apart from Our Changing Seas, I have also
done a series of smaller wall-mounted ceramic
sculptural vignettes called “Hope Spots” that
is intended to help influence policy surrounding marine protected areas (MPAs). Dr. Sylvia
Earle—a renowned oceanographer and Time
magazine’s first Hero for the Planet—coined
the term “Hope Spot” to identify each of
Earth’s most vital marine ecosystems and
highlight the need for MPAs to protect them.
The first 18 pieces in my “Hope Spots” series
debuted in San Francisco in early 2012 and a
portion of the proceeds from selling this work
continues to support Mission Blue—Dr. Earle’s
global initiative that was formed in response to
her 2009 TED Prize wish to ignite public support for a global network of MPAs to protect
the world’s Hope Spots. Now that Mission Blue
has announced a total of 50 Hope Spots, I have
my work cut out for me to make more!

CM: The cumulative impacts of human-caused
pressures are wreaking havoc on our ocean
planet. Finding realistic solutions may seem
daunting, but there is still hope. We protect
what we care about, and we care about what
we know and understand. We Artivists and
SciArtists can raise awareness about these issues and catalyze emotional connections to
the ocean, inspiring innovation, creativity, and
tireless dedication among people all over the
world to do what they can to shape policy and
grassroots change before it’s too late.

SAiA: Your home decor company, Corallia
Design, seems to be a very nice counterpart to
your artistic practice. When did you start this
company, and why?
CM: Thank you! My real passion lies in creating monumental public sculptural installations,
but I believe that it will take art of all kinds to
motivate global change to save vital ecosystems.
Everyone on earth is alive because of the ocean,
from the water we drink to the air we breathe.
Many people don’t see or think about the ocean
on a daily basis, and consider corals and other
reef organisms to be exotic and aesthetically
pleasing. I started Corallia in August 2012 as a
way to inspire ocean conservation within the
hearts and homes of individuals with affordable
and sustainable ocean-inspired decorative objects. The name Corallia is a play on the genus
of endangered “precious corals” commonly used
for jewelry: Corallium. I enjoy creating this
kind of work because it is more accessible to a
broader audience and can be used as conversation pieces. More conversations mean more
awareness. Also, proceeds from Corallia help
offset my business carbon emissions, keeping
my “Inland Sea Studio” in landlocked Denver,
Colorado carbon neutral.
SAiA: Is there anything else you would like to
add?

SciArt in America December 2013

(detail) “Our Changing Seas: A coral reef story” is now on loan at
AAAS. Image © Derek Parks, NOAA.

Visit Mattison's website at courtneymattison.com.

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