October 7, 2011 – Over the past 40 years, Legacy Land Conservancy has helped protect more than 4,750 acres of forests, prairies, farms, wetlands and waters. To celebrate this achievement and inspire future conservation efforts, a creative joint venture between Chelsea Center for the Arts and Legacy has been commissioned. The event, sponsored by Reinhart realty, involves a small group of artists that have been selected to create works about specific local public and private lands preserved through the Conservancy.
“Legacy Land Conservancy and the Chelsea Center for the Arts are both tremendous community resources,” said Dave Lutton, President of the Charles Reinhart Company. “We are very proud to support these wonderful organizations as well as the Stand project.”
Each artist was assigned a particular site that is not open to the public, but is within 30 miles of Ann Arbor. Through their works, these artists bring insight into our relationship with the landscape, and how we inhabit and change the natural environments in which we live. “Art helps us understand the idea of place, and illuminates how our sense of place is connected to our ideals and identity,” said Cathy Barry, Chelsea Center for the Arts instructor.
“Art helps us understand the idea of place, and illuminates how our sense of place is connected to our ideals and identity”
– Cathy Barry, CCA Instructor
Co-curators of the exhibition are artist Cathy Barry and Barry Lonik, Land Protection Consultant. The artists involved include: Barbara Bushey, Deborah Campbell, Nancy Feldkamp, Steve Gilzow, Birgit Hutteman-Holz, Angelis Jackowski, Janet Kohler, John Lloyd, Nancy McKay, Brenda Miller, Susan Moran, Lynn Quick, Anne Rubin, Cathy VanVoorhis, Nora Venturelli, and Elaine Wilson.
Legacy Land Conservancy was established in 1971 to protect forests, prairies, farms, wetlands and waters – today and forever. Throughout the years, LLC has worked diligently to protect the lands that we now know to be part of our community park systems, including the Osborne Mill Riverlands Preserve, now managed by Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission, and the City of Ann Arbor’s Bandemer Park, Bird Hills Park, and Black Pond Woods. In 1999 the Potawatomi Land Trust merged with the Washtenaw Land Trust, and in 2003, the Waterloo Land Conservancy Trust also joined the organization. In 2009, the Washtenaw Land Trust changed its name to Legacy Land Conservancy to reflect its regional scope. Nationally recognized for conservation excellence, the Conservancy is among the first conservancies nationwide to be awarded accreditation by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.
Nature and open spaces are important to us for clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat, our relaxation and recreation, growing fresh healthy food, and more. The Conservancy works to spread this message through outreach and education, offering events throughout the year to celebrate, learn about, and enjoy protected lands in our community. For more information about the Legacy Land Conservancy, please call 734.302.5263 or email info@legacylandconservancy.org.
The mission of the Chelsea Center for the Arts is to enhance the quality of life in Chelsea and the surrounding areas through programs which encourage participation in and appreciation of the arts. The CCA offers classes, workshops, private lessons, after school art clubs, summer camps, outreach programs, exhibitions, performances, and special events for youths and adults. Collaborative programs produced with community partners, such as LLC, the River Gallery, the Chelsea District Library, and the Chelsea District Public Schools further enhance the capabilities and impact of this important cultural resource, which also contributes to the vitality of downtown Chelsea and supports local and area artists.
The CCA Gallery focuses on the presentation of work by students, faculty, area artists, and featured artists through curated exhibitions. Exhibitions are free and open to the public at the CCA at 400 Congdon Street, at Summit, one block off of Main Street, in Chelsea, Michigan.
Opening Reception on December 2
Please join us on Friday, December 2, from 6 to 8PM to honor this very special show. Each work of art will be for sale and 30% of the proceeds will be donated to the two nonprofit groups, Legacy Land Conservancy and Chelsea Center for the Arts. Sandhill Crane Vineyard wines and Wolverine State Brewing Company beer will be served with light appetizers. The reception is free and open to the public.
Posted 10/7/11
Last updated 11/15/11