Art on the Wild Side at RISD's ISB Gallery

RISD grad Emily Poole, Illustration 2016, studied the red and green macaw for Wildlife: Trading and Conservation

Photo courtesy of Creature Conserve/Emily Poole

From July 14 through August 6, RISD’s ISB Gallery will be hosting Wildlife: Trading and Conservation, an exhibit that blurs the lines between science and art. Co-sponsored by RISD, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Creature Conserve, a non-profit started by RISD professor and wildlife veterinarian Lucy Spelman, the exhibit features the work of artists who have been paired with scientific experts to shine a light on the issue of wildlife trade.

The artists will be focusing on one of 15 animals, including the African grey parrot, chimpanzees, Asian elephants, pangolins and sharks. Spelman was the initial point of contact for the artists, sharing with them her own personal and professional experiences with the animal they selected. After the discussions with Spelman, the artists were paired with experts on their chosen animal with whom they then delved into the problem of wildlife trade and began to explore possible solutions.

“Teaching at RISD, I have learned this approach works well,” Spelman says. “I have found that what they make is more powerful and emotionally charged when the assignment is more open-ended, and when they have time to dig into the science on their own terms.”

More than 30 artists are participating in the exhibit, including current RISD students, recent graduates and alumni. Accepted pieces will be from disciplines as varied as their subjects, including painting, sculpture, animation, even textiles. This variety will speak not just to the individuality of the artist, but to the ways in which these animals, though faced with the same problem, are suffering in unique ways.

“Artists have always been interpreters of our time; their messages reach us emotionally and subconsciously, as well as intellectually. Together, art and science reach a wider audience with a more inclusive message,” says Spelman. “I started Creature Conserve to provide ways for artists and scientists to work together for the sake of all animals, including the human ones.”