‘Looking for a break’: Art, education exhibition features beauty of Lake Michigan shoreline

Aside from showcasing the serenity of natural beauty there is another reason behind an upcoming exhibition at the Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art at the College of Lake County in Grayslake.

Organizers hope “Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: The Flora, Fauna and Communities of the Lake Plain” spreads awareness for the plucky endangered birds beyond the core of dedicated volunteers who work to protect them.

“Art can be a compelling way to engage people who might not be aware of the plovers and their habitat,” said Carolyn Lueck, president of the Lake County Audubon Society and Sharing Our Shore-Waukegan.

Those organizations and CLC are partnering in the exhibition featuring about 150 pieces of art by more than 45 artists.

Works include paintings, photography, sculpture and ceramics that explore the landscapes and wildlife that define the Lake Plain ecosystem, including high-quality dunes and swales stretching 15 miles from Kenosha to Waukegan.

“I think people are looking for a break — something beautiful. A great story,” said Ann Rintz, art gallery and permanent collection curator for CLC’s four campuses.

Organizers say there will be plenty of birds in the show, including piping plovers, a charismatic federally endangered shorebird that with lots of help is making a slow comeback in the Great Lakes region.

One pair’s return to nest on a private beach in Waukegan has made them celebrities of sorts and inspired community involvement and renewed appreciation for the lakefront habitat, Lueck said.

The art exhibition highlights birds, the places they depend on and the plant and wildlife diversity of the fragile ecosystem and the people who work to preserve it all, she added.

A special exhibit within the show will feature award-winning photography by Steve Jessmore from his trademark series “Birds Doing Stuff.”

The exhibition includes interactive educational displays highlighting the recovery story of the piping plovers, their habitat and the work of volunteers, researchers and community partners. Visitors will learn about migration, conservation challenges and how local stewardship plays a role in protecting threatened and endangered species.

It’s the gallery’s first partnership with a community organization, Rintz said.

“The more people know the more they’ll get interested and the more they’ll want to pitch in and help,” Rintz added. “I think it’s a good thing for people to be aware of.”

The Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art is at CLC, L-Wing, 10351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. The exhibition opens Feb. 27 and runs through March 31. Admission is free. Visit lakecountyaudubon.org.