Out of The Water, explores oceanic ecosystems and highlights the importance of conservation. With ceramic tiles made in Italy during her study abroad, Makayla welcomes the hands of strangers in the city center in Fireze. Through her engaged social practice within her work, she explores the vulnerability of allowing strangers to hold her fragile clay tiles while connecting through conversation about the beauty and significance of coral reefs. With a site-specific approach, she re-contextualizes the cleanliness of the Arno River to tourists, visitors, and community members in hopes to spread awareness of the river's impact into the Sea. Similar to Makayla’s experience growing up near the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa she makes cross-cultural connections to how both the Mississippi and the Arno affect oceanic ecosystems.
