Project Art for Nature (PAN) is a collaboration of artists and illustrators from Minnesota and Wisconsin working independently and collaboratively to create artwork which promotes stewardship of threatened natural areas in our region.

Participating artists focus their work on an area of land that is need of protection. Smaller groups (pods) are formed within the larger group. Pod members visit each others sites and create works based on their pod-mates sites. A portion of all sales from Project Art for Nature shows are donated to an organization working to protect natural areas.

Inspiration for PAN came from the Copper River Delta exhibit, hosted by Bell Museum of Natural History in 2000. A select international group of artists gathered at Copper River to learn about and create artwork extolling this vast ecosystem, devastated by the notorious Exxon Valdez oil spill. Their artwork, exhibited throughout the world, alerted the public to the beauty of this distant place, inspired us to protect it, and raised funds to support the restoration of the natural and native human communities of the Delta.

Recognizing that areas of spectacular natural beauty close to home are also in need of preservation and restoration, a group of visual artists has chosen to work locally and regionally. Individually chosen sites include public and private lands and waters in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Through deep observation and unique creative processes, PAN artists will explore the native plant and animal communities within their sites. The artworks they create will highlight natural gems of, or threats to, prairie, forest, wetland or savannah. Whether protected, in need of maintenance or restoration, or surviving through benign neglect, these areas provide diminishing habitat for precious native flora and fauna. The exhibition of PAN artwork will offer the public an intimate view of what we all stand to lose, but hope to preserve.

PAN is not accepting membership applications at this time. PAN has not determined when a call for members will begin. When a call for members is made, an announcement and application materials will be posted on this website. (5/2/2013)

inquiries@projectartfornature.org.