The San Juan Islands are the pinnacles of a submerged mountain range that connects Vancouver Island with the mainland. They’re a tidal-gateway between the open ocean and the Gulf of Georgia to the north. Because of this, heavy tide-rips are common in many of the island’s inner channels. If it weren’t for the interference caused by these tide-rips, the islands’ exposed shorelines would suffer from significant erosion during winter storms. Instead, erosion is most dramatic only during slack tide and high-water wave-cuts are visible on many of the islands’ exposed shorelines.

This piece comes ready to hang, pre-framed in a custom, solid-wood frame. Its rich contours are carefully crafted from laser-cut layers of Baltic birch, which are hand colored and glued together with the intent that each becomes a prized conversational piece and treasured heirloom.