In Gyre, Fred Tomaselli depicts a torrent of trash that has been ingested by an ocean fish. In this short video, National Geographic discusses how plastic pollution harms marine species and increases human health risks by introducing toxins into the seafood we consume. Can new technologies help us clean the oceans of plastic? Learn more about an ambitious clean up plan and the science-based objections to its advisability and effectiveness.

Fred Tomaselli’s paintings of birds are a celebration of the web of life, and they evoke the message of a powerful book that galvanized the environmental movement ― Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. Published in 1962, Silent Spring was a meticulous account of the impact of DDT on the health of the ecosystem. Carson was inspired to research the book following reports of birds dying in large numbers due to the use of DDT. Carson depicts a town in which life has been silenced by the use of DDT, a powerful image that awakened the public to the dangers of toxic chemicals. Learn more about Silent Spring in this post from NRDC.

Fred Tomaselli enjoys birdwatching, a hobby that has enhanced his appreciation of the intricacy of living systems. The colorful beauty of birds and his heightened awareness of their presence in the environment has made them perfect subjects for his paintings. Learn more about the influence of birds on his work in this video interview.

Tomaselli embeds complex and nuanced detail in his paintings, drawing us into a journey of intimate exploration. The resulting works represent the complexity of nature and invite the viewer to experience that complexity at both the macroscopic and microscopic levels. These shifting perspectives are reminiscent of the iconic 1977 film by Charles and Ray Eames, Powers of Ten. The film begins with an overhead view of a picnic in the park, and then zooms out in a series of steps. The steps are measured in meters and each step increases the distance from the origin by a power of ten until the vantage point reaches the outer limits of the universe.  The film then zooms back in by powers of ten, culminating with a vantage point at the atomic level.

Following a revelatory experience with the art of James Turrell, Fred Tomaselli began to explore the power of the “double take” as an artistic tool. In his paintings, Tomaselli entices viewers to delve further into his work by embedding a myriad of small images and conceptual content. Does this technique operate on our consciousness in a manner similar to subliminal messaging?  Learn more about subliminal messaging in this article from Scientific American.

Fred Tomaselli’s paintings are a vehicle for altering our perception of the natural world, and in them we can discover both the sublime and the kinetic tension of ever-present conflict. If you are inspired by his work, you can take action in your own life. Select one or more pledges listed below and spread the word. You can also learn more by visiting our Pledge Center.  Let’s #EndOvershoot!