ARTservancy: Art and conservation
February 3, 2019 | Topics: featured artist, Spotlight
What do a land trust and an art gallery have in common? A land trust protects land and water resources. An art gallery displays and sells the work of artists. Well, in 2018 the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust (OWLT) and Port Washington’s Gallery 224 have established an unusual partnership with a program they’re calling ARTservancy. It is a yearlong residency that features the work of twelve artists. Each artist has selected an OWLT preserve to spend time in and to engage with.
Fellenz Woods, West Bend WI
Each resident artist will create a body of art work inspired by their engagement with the land. In addition, there will be on site programming throughout the year. The objective is to promote the visionary work of both the artists and the land trust. The year, which began in September 2018, will culminate with an exhibition at Gallery 224 in September 2019.
This blog post is an introduction to the ARTservancy program and the artists. As part of its ongoing featured artist series, The Natural Realm will in coming weeks and months feature each of the individual artists and their respective preserves.
Huiras Lake State Natural Area, Fredonia WI
Ozaukee Washington Land Trust
“The staff and board members of Ozaukee Washington Land Trust are ecstatic about this opportunity to partner with Gallery 224 and these 12 artists in residence and to showcase 12 of the extraordinary places our OWLT Team helps preserve and protect in perpetuity. ARTservancy is a truly unique collaborative project that will yield inspiring works of art capturing the essence of what makes our 32 Nature Preserves in Ozaukee and Washington Counties so special.
“Our OWLT Team is proud of our land and water conservation work and the impact we’ve had on the quality of life in our community for over 25 years. Through the creative lens of the artist, ARTservancy affords us the chance to celebrate and share that impact with the residents of the two Counties we serve and express our gratitude to the many friends, supporters, and stakeholders who make it all possible.”
~ Tom Mlada, OWLT Director of Development
OWLT preserves are all free and open to the public. For more information and to find a preserve, go to their website.
Bratt Woods, Grafton WI
Gallery 224
“Gallery 224 has always been about expanding the audience for artists through partnerships, and we are pleased to be engaged in ARTservancy, a new partnership with the Ozaukee Washington Land Trust. Artists can tell a story and inspire people in a way that information alone cannot. Since September, twelve artists have been exploring and developing an intimate relationship with a land preserve of their choice. In response, they are creating a body of work that will be featured in an exhibition at Gallery 224 in the fall of 2019.
“Although it is our first partnership with OWLT, this is the 5th year of our Artist in Residency Program, and we are grateful to the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Mary L. Nohl fund for making these residencies possible.”
~ Jane Suddendorf, Gallery 224 Director
Gallery 224 is also free and open to the public. For gallery hours, a calendar of events and more information, go to their website.
The Artists
Risë Andersen, “Artifact” (detail), rattan, plaster, paint. Preserve: Sauk Creek Preserve, Port Washington
Michael Bunton, Untitled B&W Photograph. Preserve: Kratzsch Conservancy, Newburg
Brooklyn Henke, “Spirit Lake,” watercolor. Preserve: Spirit Lake Preserve, Mequon
Chris Hewitt, Wood Bench. Preserve: Kurtz Woods Natural Area, Grafton
Gina Litherland, “Autumn (The Salamander),” drypoint. Preserve: Bratt Woods, Grafton
Cynthia Lorenz, Untitled mixed media. Preserve: Huiras Lake State Natural Area, Fredonia
Patricia Bertha Mattingly, Untitled folding screen. Preserve: Donges Bay Gorge, Mequon
Todd Mrozinski, “Fellenz Woods,” etching. Preserve: Fellenz Woods, West Bend
Andrew Musil, “Water,” silver gelatin print. Preserve: Cedarburg Environmental Study Area, Cedarburg
Dave Niec, “Tamarack Tree Towering Over Swamp in Moonlight,” ink on paper. Preserve: Lake Twelve
Hal Rammel, “Milwaukee River,” photograph. Preserve: Hames Nature Preserve, Waubeka
Nicole Shaver, “Lake Michigan Geology Unhatched,” found rocks and brass. Preserve: Forest Beach Migratory Preserve, Port Washington
Stay tuned for future blogs featuring each individual artist and their selected preserves.
Lake Twelve, Farmington WI
Photographs by Eddee Daniel, A Wealth of Nature project director.