Penguins at the Precipice

Several different sub-species of penguins are in danger of extinction, including Emperor penguins, King penguins, Antarctic penguins and African penguins. All face different degrees of threat from climate change, overfishing and oil spills. Antarctic penguins are breeding weeks earlier due to climate change melting Antarctic ice, resulting in less food for their baby chicks. Their fate is rapidly worsening as climate change accelerates the rate of sea-ice-melt. Less than 10,000 remain on the planet, making them critically endangered. (World Wildlife Federation & Birdlife.org)

Joan was born and raised in Philadelphia, where her lifelong impulse to interpret the world through visual art first took root. She began formal painting studies in the Chicagoland area in the early 2000s, training for two decades under artist Enid Silverman and embracing Silverman’s deep affection for oil on canvas. Her work reflects the influence of frequent moves and travels within the US and abroad. Adopting North Dallas as home in the 2020's, her life experiences and travels continue to shape her evolving artistic language. Each new life chapter becomes a catalyst for transformation on the canvas, reflecting an ever-deepening dialogue between her inner experience and the world around her.