photo by Karen Laslo
Ali Meders-Knight shows her painting next to the Mechoopda basket (lower right) that provided inspiration.
by Leslie Layton
When Ali Meders-Knight was asked to provide mural art for the local contingent at the upcoming San Francisco march for climate action, she thought of the basket designs used by her Mechoopda ancestors.
She thought about historical descriptions of the Northern Sacramento Valley, when birds and butterflies were so numerous they sometimes blocked any view of the sky.
And before that day was out, she had a painting that will be used as a template for a mural panel at San Francisco Civic Center.