Lake Merritt, nicknamed “The Crown Jewel of Oakland”, is the largest urban estuary in the United States
There is an archipelago along the north shore of the lake where the birds perch above trees. Like the diverse communities of Oakland, the birds there include native and migrant species. When I walk around the lake, identifying the birds became an exercise of being present and appreciating the richness of Oakland. My painting “Around the Jewel” depicts the migrant Great Blue Heron dancing in harmony with Oakland’s official native bird the Black Crowned Night Heron, juxtaposed against traditional batik patterns.
Eva Agus • She/Her • Oakland, CA & b. Jakarta, Indonesia
Eva Agus is an emerging multidisciplinary artist with a civil engineering background. Her work explores the intersections of science, memory, and cultural identity. Eva works in painting, batik, and botanical installations to evoke California through an Indonesian visual lens.
