Western Reserve Academy, sitting on 190 acres and adjacent to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, is well acquainted with the nature of Northeast Ohio and all of its inhabitants — but for many in our community, it is rare that we take a moment to notice our smallest and most essential neighbors. Luckily, we will soon have the opportunity to take a closer look at these tiny friends through the upcoming Moos Gallery exhibit, “Bees, Bugs and Butterflies: How Pollinators Help the Cuyahoga Region Bloom.”
Generously funded by multiple organizations, including the Akron Community Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, Tinker’s Creek Watershed Partners and the National Park Service, this traveling exhibit features the work of photographers Jerry Cannon, Danae Wolfe, Jim Roetzel, Denny Reiser, Anthony Rodgers and Jeffrey Gibson. Click here to review their bios.
The photos on display are more than stunning snapshots of our many pollinators, they are reminders of the pivotal role they play in our ecosystem and an opportunity to learn more about our relationship with these often underappreciated insects. And perhaps this could ignite a spark within some to lend a hand to ongoing efforts to improve the environment of the Tinker’s Creek, Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie watersheds.
“[Bees, Bugs and Butterflies] explores our interdependence on nature, human impact and challenges, taking action, community identity and shaping future dialogues,” shared Fine & Performing Arts Department faculty member Martha Ziga Bayliss ’88, who helps coordinate the Moos Gallery shows. “Insects are strong identifiers for improving water quality, our quality of life, restoration, economic benefits, and many other indicators of sustainability. Each image connects people to the resiliency, beauty, challenges and successes of our environment around our water resources.”
The exhibit also serves as a reminder of the importance of simply being in nature, of strengthening our connection to the natural world, and how this practice can go a long way in improving our mental health and wellbeing.
We are so pleased to offer this unique opportunity here on our campus. The show will run inside Moos Gallery from January 3 to March 2, 2024, with a special reception held on Friday, January 19, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
