I created this painting as part of my artist residency at Treehouse Dispensary and Art Gallery this past summer, aiming to bring awareness to the ongoing deforestation crisis of my ancestors land Michoacán, Mexico. The work honors the memory and legacy of Homero Gómez González, a Mexican environmental activist, agricultural engineer, and politician who dedicated his life to protecting the monarch butterfly habitat in Michoacán. At the age of 50, he was found murdered—a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those defending our natural world.
His death, along with that of fellow activist Raúl Hernández Romero, underscores the violence tied to illegal logging and environmental exploitation in the region fueled by drug cartels. Both men were connected to the El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Preserve, where they tirelessly fought to protect the forest, a crucial sanctuary for monarch butterflies.
To continue their mission, $600 of this painting’s proceeds will be directly donated to support reforestation efforts at the El Rosario Monarch Butterfly Reserve.
