Artist Mark Rehkopf created the 10 by 15 foot digital painting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department.
This piece represents the interplay between life and the environment,” said Rehkopf. “Viewers follow the mastodon on its’ journey from master to victim of the environment.”
Since the process of fossilization can be difficult to understand, a 30 second 3D augmented reality animation will show how the mastodon’s bones begin this extensive process. This second phase will be installed over the next few months.
Stories on North American mastodons are rare and this exhibit will highlight an important part of Ontario’s natural history.
The mural is located in the Earth Sciences Museum in the Centre for Environmental and Information Technology (EIT).