Projects
Science Communication
Through the Department of Human Ecology, the Zoological Collections offers credit for practicum work in Science Communication. Undergraduate interns from any discipline can research a taxonomic group, an ecological process, an influential ecologist, or an interesting evolutionary story about a species. Students then design and paint a mural on the collections cabinets based on their research. Each mural had its own artistic perspective and ecological narrative designed to encourage engagement with biodiversity through the energy of living ecosystems. The aim is to create spaces for learning where the preserved and decontextualized specimens are counterbalanced by images of the vibrant habitats and dynamic system in which the species are integral.
Gita Baskaran with her mural of invertebrate life around an undersea shipwreck. The mural shows life emerging from the decay of human industry.
Artist Statement: This mural was completed completed using acrylic paint, and the whole process took around 135 hours. The idea was to bring attention to a part of the natural world that is often overlooked. In this case, I decided to focus on invertebrates, which often receive much less attention than animals like whales or sharks. A series of sketches and hours of research were done to create a concept that truly communicates this story in a beautiful way, but also gives personality to these organisms that people may be learning about for the first time. A series of layers at different distances were designed to give scale and depth to the painting, making for an almost grand underwater scene. The duality of the dull, decaying ship and the thriving, colorful invertebrates also adds to the interest. There are also small details that add more life the more you look at it, like the diver with a flashlight or the small sea slugs.
Dhriti Hedge stands with her mural of the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow, a species endemic to the Everglades ecosystem of southern Florida. Dhriti is a visual artist from Mason Gross, School of the Arts. Her mural tells the story of this endangered bird in the Everglades National Park whose populations are difficult to monitor by foot or car, and instead require a helicopter. Her work reminds visitors that even in a National Park, species can still be at risk. South of Lake Okeechobee, water is highly controlled to promote agriculture and prevent flooding in residential areas. The canals and water management impoundments between Lake Okeechobee and Everglades Park can alter the location and extent of suitable breeding habitat for these rare birds. This species, originally named for Cape Sable which lies in the southwestern most region of Everglades Park, is now only found in the interior of the park.
