Official diagnosis

It's official - the U.S. Geological Survey has confirmed that the fungus Geomyces destructans is causing white-nose syndrome in American bat species.

Here's hoping that pinpointing the cause of the bat crash leads to funding, more public awareness, and a stop to the deadly fungus.

Cause confirmed for devastating bat disease

Native American Speaker Reflects at "Reflections" Show

Reflections: Homage to Dunkard Creek is the show I contributed a mussel-themed piece to, currently on display in West Virginia.

Ann Payne, organizer and curator of the exhibition, writes:

Crayfish, a water-soluble pencil painting by Jana Matusz

A free public reception will be held at Arts Monongahela to honor Joe

Candillo, this year’s principal speaker at the 2011 Peace Tree

Ceremony hosted by the WVU Native American Studies Program.  The 5:30

p.m reception for Mr. Candillo is scheduled for Tuesday, October 25th at

Arts Monongahela’s Jackson Kelly Gallery, 201 High Street.  

Mr. Candillo’s reception and remarks will take place amidst the

artwork of Reflections: Homage to Dunkard Creek, a collaborative art

exhibit honoring 90 animal species that perished in the 2009 poisoning

of Dunkard Creek, a West Virginia and Pennsylvania stream.  The area

surrounding Dunkard Creek was once home to the Monongahela People, a

late woodland Native American culture.  Reflections: Homage to Dunkard

Creek’s 90 participating artists are all practicing artists whose

lives are connected to the Monongahela Watershed.

Following the reception at 6 p.m., Candillo will share some traditional

Native American perspectives about the role of humans in the natural

environment and the idea of respect for each other and all of creation. 

Candillo, a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, is currently completing

his Ph.D in American Studies at Buffalo, NY.  In addition to his

education in anthropology and American Indian Studies, Candillo has

worked as an artist, curator, and exhibit designer.  Reflections: Homage

to Dunkard Creek is sponsored by The Mountain Institute:  Appalachia

Program.