Wild Rose of the Mountain

Picture
Wild Rose of the Mountain 15X38 Pastel and pencil on paper
Wild Rose of the Mountain commemorates the discovery of a new species of bat, Myotis nimbaensis, in 2020, in the Nimba Mountains of Guinea.  This new bat species is known for its striking orange fur and black wings.  Not surprisingly, The New York Times celebrated this discovery as confirmation that "Halloween bats" actually exist.
Picture
Satellite image of the area in which Myotis nimbaensis was discovered
Wild Rose of the Mountain is based on the harmonic pattern of the Appalachian fiddle tune Wild Rose of the Mountain. The title refers not only to the fiddle tune, but compares the unique "ginger" fur of the bat to a red-headed girl. The colors of the painting contain the green and rose found in satellite images of the location of the discovery, indicating habitat loss due to mining.  
Learn more from Bat Conservation International about the discovery of Myotis nimbaensis and international collaboration between researchers and industry to protect the vulnerable the Nimba Mountain region.
Text on the painting quotes Yeats' The Hosting of the Sidhe.
THE HOSTING OF THE SIDHE
by William Butler Yeats
 
THE host is riding from Knocknarea
And over the grave of Clooth-na-Bare;
Caoilte tossing his burning hair,
And Niamh calling Away, come away:
Empty your heart of its mortal dream.
The winds awaken, the leaves whirl round,
Our cheeks are pale, our hair is unbound,
Our breasts are heaving, our eyes are agleam,
Our arms are waving, our lips are apart;
And if any gaze on our rushing band,
We come between him and the deed of his hand,
We come between him and the hope of his heart.
The host is rushing 'twixt night and day,
And where is there hope or deed as fair?
Caoilte tossing his burning hair,
And Niamh calling Away, come away.
Image of Myotis Nimbaenis - Bat Conservation International
Image of Nimba Mountains by EROS
Banner Image - Creative Commons Nimba Mountains