The historical significance of Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy coupled with the visual and emotional enticement of Rossano’s art leads viewers to the understanding that conservation begins, for each of us, wherever we are in our understanding and perspective … as well as wherever we are physically and geographically, with nature in sight, under foot, and all around. In short, wherever our “here” might be.
In the context of Roosevelt’s highly documented love and respect for animals, Conservation from Herevisualizes and articulates how he came to define, embrace, and champion conservation. Through the visual, spatial, and tactile qualities of Rossano’s art, it also explores and comments on our collective future and the critical importance of maintaining biodiversity for the preservation of all species.
The exhibit comprises three seemingly divergent but inseparably themed installations:
- Lawn (Spectacle) – Herd of 200 Elk Sculpted from Recycled Alcoa Aluminum
- Gallery 1 (Historical) – Paintings of Rifle Engravings on Historically-Sourced Wood
- Gallery 2 (Visionary) – Trophy Room Replica Sculptures & Species/DNA Photography
Of all the questions which can come before this nation, short of the actual preservation of its existence in a great war, there is none which compares in importance with the great central task of leaving this land even a better land for our descendants than it is for us, and training them into a better race to inhabit the land and pass it on. Conservation is a great moral issue for it involves the patriotic duty of insuring the safety and continuance of the nation. – Theodore Roosevelt
THE NEXT 100 YEARS
WHERE DOES CONSERVATION GO FROM HERE? WHAT TOOLS & LESSONS CAN WE CARRY WITH US INTO THE NEXT 100 YEARS?
Much like Roosevelt in his day, students are the citizen scientists of our day … but instead of rifles and nets they will employ some of the most advanced methods and technologies now available.
Conservation From Here will also feature a unique educational program aimed at teaching our citizen scientists about the importance of conservation in creating a sustainable future for all species.
As part of the exhibit, students will be able to collect, genetically sequence and catalog native species. We are working with International Barcode of Life past-president Christian Burks, Mark Stoeckle (Rockefeller University), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and Barcode Long Island in order to create STEAM-oriented curricula for middle and high school science teachers.Conservation From Here is about combining lessons from the past and determining where to go from here. It is about facilitating conversation so that lessons from the past are not wasted, but rather combined with new technology to shape the future. This exhibit, like every species, is constantly evolving.