Species in Peril Along the Rio Grande

Developed in partnership with the Art & Ecology Program at the University of New Mexico (UNM), “Species in Peril Along the Rio Grande” explores how the river connects us across borders and disciplines, and is designed to provide education and spur dialogue around pressing ecological issues of our time. The exhibition – subtitled Contemporary Artists Respond – features commissioned and existing artworks highlighting diverse perspectives on varieties of plants and animals, including flowers, trees, fish, birds, and bees—iconic and overlooked—undergoing mass-die off’s and population declines within the Rio Grande watershed. Through the eyes of contemporary artists, the exhibition examines regional flora and fauna and raises ethical and cultural questions about human impact on the natural world. The exhibition takes place at 516 ARTS in Albuquerque and is co-curated by Josie Lopez, PhD, Curator of Art, Albuquerque Museum, and Subhankar Banerjee, Lannan Chair and Professor of Art & Ecology, UNM.

Image:
Suzi Davidoff
(El Paso, Texas)
Simplified World / Aplomada Falcon and Grasses
2017, charcoal, gesso, map, 50 x 68 x 3 inches

“This piece is part of a series about human-wrought changes in the ecosystem, exploring of the contrast between the clarity and wonder of the natural world as I perceived it in elementary school science and geography classes and the present instability of specific natural forms which may soon disappear. In this piece, the main image, the Northern Aplomada falcon, is endangered in Texas and Northern New Mexico. The shadow images are native Texas grasses, which provide habitat for the falcons and other birds and mammals.”