Art Exhibit: Our Once & Future Wetlands

All around the world, wetlands support a tremendous diversity of plants and wildlife. These ecosystems also improve water quality, reduce erosion and flood damage, and even sequester carbon dioxide. But they continue to be degraded and drained at an alarming rate. Restoring these valuable, often-overlooked ecosystems is the work of The Wetlands Initiative (TWI). 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.

For more information about the artist, visit lindsayolsonart.com

Meet the artist and learn more about The Wetlands Initiative on November 9 from 6-8 pm. Register here.