Re-Inhabiting Conservation: Using Art to Bring Wildlife Conservation Closer to Home reconsiders the role of artists in wildlife conservation and explores the possibilities of art informed by science. The exhibition features work by visual artists and writers from 11 countries, and is produced in collaboration with GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA.

In the context of this exhibition, “re-inhabiting” (a term borrowed from the Bioregionalism movement of the 1930’s) is a call to restore wildlife to native habitats and rethink our relationship to geographic boundaries. It is also a call to rethink boundaries between art and science. It presents an invitation to step out of siloed roles and step up to conservation action. Some artworks in the exhibition draw attention to these barriers and limitations within wildlife conservation, while others point to a hopeful future in which we all become part of the solution. They urge us to actively commit to caring for the animals, habitats, and natural resources around us. 

For example, in Chrysalid Interchange Hand and Pitcher Plant, Rachel Frank uses various kiln-fired materials to explore the malleability of life. She presents a vision of a hopeful, adaptive future. Joshua Newth, in his painting Alighted Enlightenment, portrays the tension between our desire to protect and our capacity to destroy the environment we love.

Susan Munderich’s Otters at Dusk captures the awe-inspiring presence of nature in our urban environments. Others—such as Kathy Hodge’s Please Excuse Our Appearance: Black Bear—serve as monuments to displaced species and lost habitats.

Collectively, the exhibition celebrates cultural diversity as a reflection of biodiversity, presents a shared language for communicating traditional ecological knowledge and scientific research, and brings wildlife conservation closer to home. 

This is the third exhibition in our “Re” conservation series which “re” considers the role of artists in wildlife conservation and explores the possibilities of art informed by science.

Curator, Re-Inhabiting Conservation: Heather McMordie, Director of Curatorial Programs and Exhibits, Creature Conserve.

Curatorial and Production Manager, Re-Inhabiting Conservation: Deanne Fernandes, Creative Content Program Leader, Creature Conserve.

Exhibiting Artists

Adri Pritchard, Alexa Brooks, Alexi Scheiber, Anjali Pujari,Anna Fine Foer, Bandana Paul, Bobby Haskell, Brandie Garner,Carlotta Gessler, Catie Michel, Christopher Brinkman, Claire Coté, Elizabeth Ellenwood, Faith Williams, Dyrsten,George Lorio, James Lilly, Joshua Newth, Kathy Hodge, Laura Juliana Guerrero, Madeline von Foerster, Matthew Werner, Carla Rhodes, Meera Krishnamurthy, Natalie Field, Rachel Frank, Noah Rauch, Rebecca Schultz, Sally Kauffman, Sambita Modak, Sandy Kessler Kaminski, Lisa Kahn Schnell, Shivani Shenoy,Sophie Niemann, Sophy Tuttle, Spencer Tinkham, Susan Munderich, and Valerie Carrigan.

Exhibiting Writers

Anangookwe Wolf,Andrea Ferrari Kristeller,Audacia Ray, Catherine Fletcher, Christine M. Du Bois, Joanna Kaufman, Juliana Roth, Kim Melton, Logan Robins, Shiri Lev, Suze Agnes, Tabassam Shah, and Wendi White.