Forever Forests Art & Award Show this Saturday
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: David Bryant, Campaigns and Engagement Manager
dbryant@cnps.org | 916-738-7628
On the International Day of Biological Diversity, expert judges will curate and announce the winners of the California Native Plant Society’s Forever Forest Art Contest, a campaign that invites Californians to explore and express their connections to the state’s forested ecosystems through art.
May 19, 2021, Sacramento — This Saturday is the United Nations International Day of Biological Diversity, and the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) is hosting a live art and award show to celebrate the biodiversity of California’s forests. The webinar event is the culmination of a multi-month community art contest.
The Forever Forests Art Contest encouraged Californians to connect with their forests through all modes of visual art. Whether exploring the surrounding ecosystems in their own forested communities or reflecting on the indelible memories left by visits to Californian’s sublime forests, artists across the state submitted more than 400 pieces that share personal connections rooted in these special places.
California forests make up nearly 30 percent of the state’s total land area. These ecosystems are under threat by severe wildfires and drought, spurred on by climate change and decades of misguided land management practices. The Forever Forests Art Contest endeavors to cultivate a public understanding of forest biodiversity and resilience through the direct experiences and personal perspectives of Californians everywhere.
“By asking the public to creatively define and illustrate forest health concepts, CNPS aims to foster a community-driven dialogue about our relationships with and hopes for California forests,” said David Bryant, CNPS Campaigns & Engagement Manager. “As we reconsider misguided land management practices, especially around fire, and honor Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge in the fight against climate change in our forests, this campaign aims to put forward a collective vision of vital forest health concepts.”
This Saturday from 12 – 1 pm, a panel of expert judges including Obi Kaufmann, award-winning artist and author of The California Field Atlas and Susan Britting, executive director of the Sierra Forest Legacy, will curate and announce the winners of each of seven categories that spotlight different aspects of forest health. The live art and award show is free to the public; registration for the event is available here.
Submissions and contest information can be viewed at www.cnps.org/forever-forests.
Above: artwork submissions to the Forever Forests Art Contest, featuring works by (clockwise from top left): Lola Camacho, Liam Ericson, Stephanie Freund, Robin Mize, Stephen Ingram, and Paola Berthoin.
About the California Native Plant Society:
The California Native Plant Society is a statewide organization working to save and celebrate California’s native plants and places via plant science, advocacy, education, and horticulture. CNPS has nearly 10,000 members in 35 chapters throughout California and Baja to promote its mission at the local level. www.cnps.org