Artists strive not only to captivate their audience but also to make a lasting impression. Now through March 24, Schumacher Gallery is hosting an exhibit that does exactly that.
“Rare: Portraits of America’s Endangered Species” which arrived on the fourth floor of Blackmore Library Jan. 14, is a collection of photography by renowned photographer Joel Sartore.
The exhibit features a variety of endangered animals, including a species of rabbit that became extinct during Sartore’s twenty-year work.
“It’s unbelievable that [Sartore] was able to find so many endangered animals and still manage to take pictures of them” Melissa Sandt, a first year student and self-proclaimed animal enthusiast, said.
Many of Sartore’s photographs include descriptions of how and where they were taken. Locations varied from the organism’s natural environment, to all white or all black rooms at zoos. This was not done without difficulty, as the artist pointed out.
“That they’re the size of a pencil lead adds to the fun of trying to photograph them,” Sartore said of a species of particularly small snails.
The exhibit is a plea for recognition of the organisms whose existence is in danger. Sartore urges those witnessing his work to educate themselves on the toll that human indifference is taking on earth’s creatures.
“With so much of the earth’s biodiversity at risk of extinction these days, there’s no time to lose,” Sartore said.
The Schumacher Gallery is located on the fourth floor of the Blackmore Library and is open from 1 to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Jordan Houser
jhouser@capital.edu
