Living Estuary
By Artist Ashley Rivers- The Nature of Fire

I have been working on a project in collaboration with the non-profit, Oyster River Ecology and local artist, Hillary Van Dyke, aiming to spread knowledge and awareness regarding the need of restoration and conservation of our environment and our oyster reefs, as well as how systemic inequities have shaped access to nature and why inclusive participation is critical to repairing the environment at large.

I will be creating a collection of Sculptures that explores the themes of ecology, restoration, and the human relationship with the natural world and the environment. The collection will be shown at the St. Petersburg Museum of History in April 2026, allowing each viewer a chance at self-reflection and individualized thought relating to the natural world and the impact of human activity on its condition- or nature’s impact on us.

I have connected with Oyster River Ecology to facilitate Oyster Rag Pot (ORP) Community Creation events to go along with the Exhibition, where I can invite/involve volunteers in our community to come together to create artificial ORP's to assist with Oyster Reef restoration efforts.

I will then create/donate ORP's myself that are inspired by my own artistic style, that will be shown during the exhibition, and then assist in the plantation of them, plus the community led ORPs, into our waterways for documentation.