Octopus in Kelp
82cm
This buoy was found by Ocean Adventures Charters on their beach clean-up initiative in the summer of 2021. It was found in the Sinnett Islands in the Byers / Conroy / Harvey / Sinnett Islands Ecological Reserve, and it was likely used in the commercial or recreational Dungeness crab fishery. This was used to mark where the crab traps have been placed on the sea floor.
I have painted this piece with a forest of bull kelp and a giant Pacific octopus. These kelp forests provide important habitat for many juvenile marine species on our Pacific Coast and are an essential part of a healthy marine ecosystem. Giant Pacific octopus can live as long as 4-5 years and are incredibly intelligent. Each arm is thought to have independent “thinking” capacities and each sucker has incredibly complex sensory capabilities with thousands of chemical receptors. They can change the colour and texture of their skin to blend in their surroundings or to appear more menacing. This marvellous creature has not iron-based blood (like us), but copper based (hemocyanin) and so has a slight greenish/blue tinge. Any human who has had an interaction with one of these amazing organisms comes away with a great appreciation for the intelligence and distinct personalities of our very distant marine cousins.