By Sophia Whitmore
Bay of Life: From Wind To Whales is art with a purpose. The exhibit, created by Frans Lanting and Chris Eckstrom, features photos of nature and mankind’s relationship with it. Bay of Life opened at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) on March 15, with an artists’ talk given by Lanting and Eckstrom. Their exhibit is on display in the CAHSS building’s art gallery through July.
The subject of Bay of Life is California’s Central Coast, famous for its towering redwood forests and abundant marine life. One hundred years ago, this biodiverse part of the world faced ecological collapse due to unsustainable logging, hunting, and fishing practices.
All hope is not lost, and due to the work of conservationists, the Central Coast is returning to its former glory. Its redwood forests have regrown, and many species have returned from the brink of extinction. Bay of Life showcases what Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay look like today, and serves as a reminder to treat the natural world with respect.
Arrangements for the Bay of Life exhibit began in June of 2023 at the very latest. That July, when James Hussar became dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at CSUMB, he took on the job of bringing Bay of Life to the university.
“My predecessor had been working with the Monterey Museum of Art on a collaborative project. And part of that collaborative project involved art gallery space, exhibiting some work by Frans Lanting and Chris Eckstrom,” said Hussar. The final product aims to teach visitors about the environment and stewardship of it.
“In addition to that, there’s the piece of appreciating the artistry of the photography that we’re going to see in the gallery.” Hussar looks forward to said gallery becoming an open space, available to everyone on the CSUMB campus. “Everyone” ranges from senior faculty to youths who are only just becoming aware of their environmental impact.
“I’d like to see the imaginations of younger people unleashed on some of the problems that [other generations] have been struggling with,” said Eckstrom.“I would like to see their imaginations brought to there, to one of those problems, and trusted. And let’s see what can come of that.” A few young students at CSUMB were in attendance at the artist’s talk and exhibit opening.
“Well, it’s definitely inspiring,” said third-year marine science major Ky Kim about the exhibit, “in the sense that it’s … a lot of nature. And as a marine scientist, I’ve always loved nature, and I love seeing how it can interact with humans.”
Peter Garcia, a first-year environmental science major, shares a similar sentiment. “The lighting and the composition is just stunning,” he said about the gallery exhibit. Being new to the area, Garcia is glad he got the chance to learn more about California. “I grew up on the East Coast, so just learning about the West Coast history has been really eye-opening.”
Part of both California’s history and its present are the Ohlone peoples. The Ohlone have lived on the Central Coast for several millennia, and Lanting believes it is important to look to their knowledge.
“The story of conservation has been championed by – primarily by – white people who live near the coast, and who come from backgrounds of privilege. And we really need to rework that into a more inclusive perspective,” says Lanting. Bay of Life features a photograph of Linda Yamane, a Rumsen basket weaver whose work helps keep her culture alive.
The Ohlone and other stewards of the Central Coast have helped revive its marine and plant life from near extinction. Bay of Life showcases the natural beauty of the area today, and how human beings interact with both land and sea.
