吃瓜网

 

MURRAY, Ky. 鈥� In celebration of the 2025 Earth Day and to raise awareness of biological conservation through art, the 吃瓜网 and local communities exhibited their works at the Biology Atrium during the month of April.

Sponsors of this event included the Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Watershed Studies Institute (WSI), Departments of Biological Sciences and Art & Design and the 吃瓜网 Art Guild.

This year, more than 80 artworks were submitted, and 30 of them were selected for exhibition by the judging panel. The judging panel included Executive Director of 吃瓜网 Art Guild Debi Danielson, Assistant Professor Cintia Segovia Figueroa from 吃瓜网 State鈥檚 Department of Art & Design and Drs. Kate He and Howard Whiteman from 吃瓜网 State鈥檚 Department of Biological Sciences. 

Participants of this year鈥檚 exhibition included students, staff and faculty from various departments, as well as professional artists and nature lovers from the region. Segovia announced the competition winners at the reception, which was held in the 吃瓜网 State Biological Science Building Atrium on April 24.

The Best Overall Award winner was Susan Krieb from 吃瓜网, Kentucky, for her work entitled 鈥淚nterflow, reliquary triptych.鈥�

Krieb describes her artwork: 鈥溾�業nterflow, a reliquary triptych,鈥� transports viewers into a sacred space where the natural world and human experience converge. The title is inspired by Welsh poet John O'Donohue鈥檚 notion of 鈥榠nterflow鈥欌�攁 state of mutual awareness and connection that transcends boundaries between beings and the earth. Interflow serves as a visual bridge to the interconnectedness of all living things, urging viewers to pause and reflect on the wondrous world around them.鈥�

The Second Place Award winner was Zack Benz from St. Louis, Missouri. His artwork title was 鈥淕ood Ash.鈥� Benz shows the audiences how easily natural ecosystems can be destroyed and removed from earth, and the importance of conserving natural habitats in a healthy state so species can thrive.

Benz summarizes his artwork: 鈥淭he art title 鈥楪ood Ash鈥� references the famous essay 鈥楪ood Oak鈥� by Aldo Leopold, in which he describes cutting down an oak tree and each annual ring represents a different event in environmental history. 鈥楪ood Ash鈥� serves as a modern visualization of this idea鈥攁 collage of tree rings each representing a different event in modern environmental history. The tree has changed from an oak to an ash as a call to the emerald ash borer; instead of an axe merely chopping through our history as it was for Leopold, it is now an invasive species eating it away from the inside.鈥�

The Third Place Award winner was Dr. Dena Weinberger from 吃瓜网, Kentucky. Her work titled 鈥淓ndangered in MN: Pallid Shiner with Dwarf Trout Lily.鈥�

鈥淭his pen and ink work is reminiscent of Scandinavian folk art that is common in Minnesota and features two species that are endangered in that state,鈥� said Weinberger. 鈥淢uch of the pallid shiner's habitat is represented, preferring quiet waters over sandy or silty bottoms that are threatened by human activity.鈥�

Honorable Mention Award winners were Piper Von Almen from 吃瓜网, Kentucky, for 鈥淏ug Box,鈥� Paul Grumley from Paducah, Kentucky, for 鈥淣ature Wins,鈥� and Basil Drossos from Paducah, Kentucky, for 鈥淏rown Marmorated Stink Bug on Moth Orchid.鈥� 

Exhibition organizer Dr. Kate He believes that this collaborative project provides a great opportunity for students, professional and amateur artists and nature lovers to showcase their talents, and at the same time to communicate with the public about the importance of keeping a healthy Earth for all.

He would like to thank all individuals involved in the project, especially Dana Vinson from biology and Barbara Like and Gerry Harris from WSI, who provided tremendous support to make this event successful.