acrylic paint; 8×10”
“My artwork confronts the uneasy relationship between humans and the natural world through the lens of deer hunting and forest destruction. The deer represents both survival and vulnerability, a creature shaped by instinct yet increasingly threatened by forces beyond its control. Hunting is shown not only as a tradition, but as a symbol of human dominance over ecosystems already weakened by deforestation and forest fires. The burning trees echo loss, displacement, and the irreversible damage caused by industrial expansion and careless consumption. By placing the deer within a fractured, dying landscape, I aim to question where necessity ends and exploitation begins. My piece does not seek to condemn or glorify hunting, but to explore the tension between respect for nature and the consequences of human action. It asks viewers to reflect on responsibility, balance, and the fragile future of wildlife in a world where forests continue to disappear.”
ARTIST BIO: Keegan MYERS is a grade 12 student at Mount Notre Dame High School studying art under art teacher Denise Scharf.