Mari Kurosawa

I am a coastal scientist and artist, born and raised in O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. As a child, one of the first lessons I was taught was learning the significance of the land and its resources that it provides me. This instilled a passion in me for environmental stewardship, which led me to pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Management, specializing in Coastal Ecology and Management from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. Working as an environmental planner for the State Department of Land and Natural Resources Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands, as well as a Community Huki Leader and artist for the environmental nonprofit, Mālama Maunalua, I carry this lesson with me in both my work in conservation, and the art that I create. Art has always been an important part of my life. I have been creating art for as long as I can remember; experimenting with any medium that I can get my hands on. My favorites being pen and ink, and ceramics. The natural world often acts as my muse, inspiring me to seek opportunities to intertwine my work as an artist. I love getting to take what I see in nature, and reproduce it in a medium that can be shared widely amongst others. I believe that the more people are exposed to the beauty of the natural world, the more conscious they become of how their actions can either benefit or harm the environment. Now, as a student in the Scientific Illustration Certificate Program at the California State University at Monterey Bay, I look forward to further developing my abilities as an artist and challenging myself with new mediums to strengthen my background in pursuit of a creative career.