Join the Wetlands Initiative for a reception, artist talk, and panel discussion surrounding Our Once & Future Wetlands: Art, Ecology & Engineering at the Oak Park Public Library. This exhibit explores wetland restoration through textile works by Lindsay Olson, TWI’s first ever artist-in-residence, and photographs by Gary Sullivan, TWI’s Senior Ecologist.
About Lindsay Olson, TWI Artist-in-Residence:
As their first artist in residence, artist Lindsay Olson draws inspiration from the funeral regalia of ancient Egypt, specifically, the fresh floral collars buried in the tomb of King Tutankhamun that have survived for thousands of years. These funeral collars were symbols of life death and rebirth. The metaphor of a collar also can be seen as a broken circle. Humans have forever interrupted the natural processes of wetlands. Wetland restoration is a way to reverse some of the damage caused and return these parcels of land into beautiful, functional wetlands again. Using various textile processes, Olson has created art that helps explain to the public the science, process, benefits, and joys of restored wetlands.
About Gary Sullivan, TWI Senior Ecologist:
Dr. Sullivan has worked on aquatic and wetland ecosystems in New York, California, Oregon, and Illinois since 1988. Since joining the Wetlands Initiative in 2001, Dr. Sullivan has designed and led the implementation of large-scale, award-winning restoration projects that incorporate a complex mosaic of habitat, hydrology, and wetland and upland plant communities to promote ecosystem integrity, biological diversity, and high-quality wildlife habitat. Often seen with a camera in hand on field days, Dr. Sullivan has documented countless restoration stories over the years as a nature photographer. Photography opened the door for Dr. Sullivan to explore nature, and he believes that if a picture can inspire us to see the value in nature, we might consider that species really are important, that nature is worth saving, and it just might be worth the efforts needed to maintain the only home we’ve got.
Please register here to attend this event.
Our Once & Future Wetlands: Art, Ecology & Engineering is on view at the Oak Park Public Library from October 10 to November 11.