We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mo Wise. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mo below.
Hi Mo, thanks for joining us today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?
My parents have been one of the greatest gifts of my life. I grew up in the same house that my parents reside in to this day in Dana Point, CA. Growing up less than a mile from the beach allowed me endless hours spent along the coast, dipping my toes into the ocean and simultaneously opening my mind and imagination to the world that resides within the sea. My mom is a retired chemist and my dad, a paper salesman. Really, they are artists, gardeners, creatives, explorers, questioners of societal norms, encouragers and truly the best parents in the world. I was a shy yet curious youngster with a thirst for spending time outdoors, touching plants and animals and doing art projects – the messier the better. Those sentiments hold true for me to this day. My parents allowed me to play hard and explore the world around me with first-hand experiences that ended up shaping my view of the world while also growing my passions in understanding the natural world through science and art. I work as a Wetland Scientist where I am able to study our world’s aquatic habitats, how they work and how to better manage our water resources along the California coast. I went to graduate school where I studied seaweed and ocean chemistry – two of my biggest loves (and quite the mixture of my parents’ loves as well). In my free time I go freediving to observe and collect free-floating seaweed species along the coast to create art that highlights the intricate beauty of seaweed. Within my art I include species, location, date, and other naturalist notes so each seaweed species within the art piece can act as a living herbarium within the homes of its owner. I attribute my “early and often” exposure to the wonders of the natural world, getting your hands dirty and exploring with art to what shapes my life today.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
My name is Mo Wise and I create seaweed art for my side-hustle company Salty and Wise. I work as a full time wetland scientist, but in my free time I get out into the ocean to freedive as much as possible. Seaweed is a passion of mine, and I studied seaweed in graduate school as I was drawn to how algae itself is keeping us all alive, believe it or not. As I graduated school and got a job working as a wetland scientist I continued following my passion for working with seaweed and created Salty and Wise to sell the seaweed creations I make. I love to make pieces that highlight the natural intricacies of seaweed species, how the colors can pop underwater and how many different colors, textures, shapes and sizes of seaweed species there are in our own backyard. I use wood as the mounting for the seaweed that is then inlaid in resin. The resin helps preserve the seaweed from cracking or degrading, while also amplifying the natural colors of the seaweed itself. Not to mention, the resin on wood creates a neat vintage flare to the piece. I finish the pieces with identification cards that are typically used in museum herbarium species which is a nod to my years studying as a marine scientist. All in all, Salty and Wise is my passion project that bridges the two worlds I love the most – science and art.
What do you find most rewarding about being creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is working with my product from start to finish. From walking into the ocean not knowing what species I may find, to pressing the seaweed in my press, to mounting the seaweed on the right piece of wood, to pouring the resin and finally finding someone who loves it enough to bring it home – it is all so satisfying. I love when people see the art and their eyes light up. Many people have lived their entire lives going into the sea, yet some have never seen certain seaweed types or have never taken the time to check out how wonderful they really are!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My main goal for creating my art, aside from an artistic outlet for me, is to illustrate and almost “freeze in time” a beautiful piece of the natural world. I love bringing natural science and art together for people to enjoy and appreciate in their homes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SaltyAndWise
- Instagram: @saltyandwise
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mo-wise-150b884b/