I’ve always loved birds — watching them, listening to them, noticing how they carry on, even after storms. But for this piece, I didn’t choose an ordinary bird; I chose the Phoenix: one that must burn before it can rise, stronger than before. The California poppies in the foreground are a tribute to our native wildflowers — resilient, vivid, and stubbornly alive. They may look delicate, even dainty but they return season after season, even after fires! This work honors the recent wildfires in Los Angeles County. So many homes, habitats, and lives were changed by that loss. But if we look closely, there’s an echo in the orange glow of fire, the bloom of the poppy, and the wings of the Phoenix. That same color marks both destruction ~ and rebirth. In a space like Descanso Gardens where native plants and cultivated beauty coexist — the resilience of the poppy and the symbolism of the Phoenix feel especially at home. This piece reflects how fire transforms a landscape and how nature, like us, holds the quiet power to heal, adapt, and grow again. It’s a visual reminder that even in loss, life returns — often more vibrant than before. This is what it means to rise.
