Protecting the Land - A Year as Artist in Residence for the Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust

Protecting the Land: A Year on the Sagebrush Steppe

This exhibition is the culmination of my 2026 Artist Residency with the Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust, a year spent exploring the remarkable landscapes, wildlife, and working lands of southeastern Idaho. Through access to protected conservation properties, I experienced places where ungulates still follow ancient migration routes, trumpeter swans return to quiet wetlands, and sagebrush ecosystems continue to support an extraordinary diversity of life. The residency was designed to connect conservation with creativity, inviting me to help tell the story of these landscapes through my own perspective.

As a lifelong Idahoan and conservation artist, I believe every landscape holds a story. Some stories are dramatic, while others unfold quietly—a lone deer standing watch in the morning light, the glow of sunset reflected on a heron's feathers, or the resilience of wildlife that depends on healthy, connected habitat. These moments became the inspiration for the paintings in this exhibition.

Each piece is an invitation to slow down and look more closely at the natural world and to be encouraged to protect it. My hope is that these paintings encourage viewers to see beyond the individual animal or scenic vista and recognize the delicate relationships that sustain Idaho's open spaces. Conservation is not only about protecting land; it is about preserving the stories, connections, and sense of wonder that these places inspire.

I am grateful to the Sagebrush Steppe Land Trust for the opportunity to witness these landscapes firsthand and to the Idaho Museum of Natural History for providing a space where art and science can come together. Together, they remind us that understanding the natural world begins with observation, and that appreciation is often the first step toward stewardship.