Gloria Williams

My inspiration for creating art has always been anchored in the appreciation of nature developed while growing up in rural southern Wisconsin. Nature has influenced my work throughout my life as an art teacher, graphic designer, and studio artist. Further understanding of our natural world was nurtured during my ten years working at a science musuem where environmental issues and education was an intregal part of its program mission.

These experiences collectively drew me to The PAN project and it’s misson of creating public interest and awareness of sensitive and endangered natural areas in our region.
Although most of the art I have exhibited over the years has been three dimensional, the last several years I have challenged myself to explore new skills required to focus on drawing and painting. Interpretation of my subject is usually expressed by capturing close-up views of the parts that make up the whole environment.

In 2003 a trip to the Nurstrand Big Woods served as inspiration to learn more about the process of restoring areas to presettlement conditions. A search for restoration projects led me to select the Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Area and Crex Meadows Wildlife Area in Burnett County Wisconsin.

Aamsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Area is a 7,233 acre site located west of Siren. 10,000 years ago the site was the bottom of a huge glacial lake. Over time the area grew into brush–prairie and a massive sedge marsh were wildlife flourished. Settlers eventally drained nearly all the wetlands in a futile attempt to farm the land . The result caused many wildlife speices to decline or completely disappear from the area. The restoration project is in the process of recreating the drained wetlands and glacial pot holes needed for water fowl breeding sites and the recurrance of brush-prairie.

Crex Meadows is a 30,000-acre state wildlife management area located near Grantsburg, Wisconsin. The primary management objective is to restore the area to its original condition of a brush prairie-wetland complex. Settlers drastically altered this area in the late 1800s. Wetlands were drained and much of the brush prairie was allowed to grow into a jack pine-oak forest. As a result, many of the original native plants and animals were significantly reduced or completely disappeared.

Since the State of Wisconsin purchased the area in 1946 and began its restoration efforts, wildlife has displayed an amazing comeback. There is now an abundance and diversity of wildlife that allow for spectacular viewing by visitors.

One of the highlights of Crex is the number of endangered and threatened species. Crex has breeding populations of osprey, eagles, trumpeter swans, Karner blue butterflies, Blanding’s turtles, and red-necked grebes. Recent projects include the trumpeter swan reintroduction, trapping and monitoring of timber wolves, a sharp-tailed grouse relocation project, pine-barrens studies and Karner blue butterfly, one of the focuses for my art for PAN I.

Both sites display ambitious examples of resortation success that I hope to express through my art.

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GLORIA WILLIAM'S WORK