One of my favorite parts of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve burned this week and is currently closed. I could see and smell the smoke from my home studio. The tears well up again when I see photos of what the Extension looks like now. When the crowds became too much for me in the larger part of the reserve (seen here in the distance), I'd walk from the top of that hill to where I was standing when I took this photograph. The cause of the fire hasn't been reported yet. However, since there was no lightning in the area that day and vegetation doesn’t combust spontaneously, I strongly suspect a person is to blame for this tragedy as is so often the case statistically.
Robin Street-Morris. Before the Fire (Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve Extension). Digital photograph.
The Extension was also the vantage point for this landscape/dreamscape where I chose to focus on the curves of Los Peñasquitos Lagoon and the iconic clifftop of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve.
Robin Street-Morris. Lagoon II (Overlooking Torrey Pines). Transparent watercolor and soft pastel on 300lb cold press paper. 13" x 20" (33 x 51cm).
We all have our causes and I don't expect this to be everyone's, particularly if you're not attached to San Diego in some way. If you’re willing and able to help with a donation for restoration efforts, you can do so via the Torrey Pines Conservancy website: https://www.torreypines.org/extension50fire/
Alternatively, you can tap on the images of the photograph or mixed media painting above and purchase a print. I'll forward 100% of my profit from the sale to the Torrey Pines Conservancy. I don't make much money from the sale of each print, so a direct donation to the TPC may have a greater impact depending on the size of it.
A Torrey pine cone at the Extension temporarily in my hand.