Elephant: New Growth In The Rising Waters

Our overuse of resources has destroyed our planet’s natural balance. The skies churn, rivers
flood, oceans rise, and forests burn. The world is a changed place, and the most vulnerable feel
the effects first.

Crystal Morey’s human-animal-plant hybrids are an imagined antidote, like seeds awakened by
wildfire that embody adaptations to these disastrous circumstances. They defy science, giving
us a hopeful second chance. They plant the precious seeds they carry with them, beginning a
journey back to a sustainable, flourishing environment. Yet their fragility and delicacy is a
reminder of the struggle of fringe and endangered species that is a consequence of the
apocalypse that has been created by rapid industrialization.
Through these hybrids, Morey addresses issues like ocean acidification and habitat
consumption while drawing attention to nature’s beauty, adaptability, and interconnection. By
suggesting that they could change what feels like an inevitable trajectory, she creates empathy
for the most vulnerable, allowing us to hope that it isn't too late.

In 2006, Morey completed her BFA from the California College of the Arts; she received her
MFA from San Jose State University in 2015. Morey has been an artist in residence at The LH
Project, Watershed Center for Ceramic Arts, and the Penland School of Craft. Her work has
been shown in galleries and museums, including the Foundation Bernardaud in Limoges,
France, the Frick Pittsburgh Museum and the Scripps College Ceramic Annual. Morey’s work is
included in the permanent collections of the Monterey Museum of Art in Monterey, California,
The Crocker Museum of Art in Sacramento, California, and Scripps College in Claremont,
California. She lives and works in Oakland, California.