Endangered Heritage: Nature in the Balance (Solo Show by Rachael McCampbell)
Rachael McCampbell is partnering with Tinney Contemporary and The Land Trust for Tennessee for an inspiring and insightful exhibit entitled: Endangered Heritage: Nature in the Balance.
A native Tennessean, McCampbell recently returned from Los Angeles to Nashville (Leiper’s Fork) to be near the source of her inspiration—Nature. This connection is strongly evident in her body of large-scale, highly textured paintings of North American endangered species, such as the Whooping Crane, Red Wolf, Florida Cougar, Big Horned Sheep, Stellar Sea Lion, Ivory-Billed Woodpecker and the Nashville Crayfish, among others. A central element of the show, designed to further challenge the viewer, is a sculptural monument comprised of actual bird and animal parts—a memorial to extinct species that have been eliminated primarily due to habitat encroachment. The painterly representations of endangered species surrounding the monument act as a hopeful contrast to the macabre sculpture as they uplift and inspire the viewer to action, shining a spotlight on the urgency surrounding our quickly disappearing natural endowment.
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- “Dreams of Bells Bend,” 6′ h x 8′ wide, Acrylic on canvas, by Rachael McCampbell © 2009 SOLD To the TN State Museum
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- “Red Wolfe,” 4′ h x 6′ wide, Acrylic on canvas, by Rachael McCampbell © 2009
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- “Florida Panthers,” 4′ h x 6′ wide, Acrylic on canvas, by Rachael McCampbell © 2009 SOLD
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- “Pennisula Bighorn Sheep,” 4′ h x 6′ wide, Acrylic on canvas, by Rachael McCampbell © 2009
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- “Stellar Sea Lions,” 3′ h x 4′ wide, Acrylic on canvas, by Rachael McCampbell © 2009
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- “Brown Pelicans,” 54″ h x 54″ wide, Acrylic on canvas, by Rachael McCampbell © 2009 SOLD
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- “Wood Bison,” 3′ h x 6\4′ wide, Acrylic on canvas, by Rachael McCampbell © 2009
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- “Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers,” 2′ h x 3′ h, Acrylic on canvas, by Rachael McCampbell © 2009
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- “Nashville Crayfish,” 18″ h x 24″ w, by Rachael McCampbell © 2009 SOLD
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- “Florida Key Deer,” 3′ w x 4′ h, acrylic on canvas by Rachael McCampbell © 2009
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- “Mystic Mother,” Sculpture by 5.5′ w x 8′ h by Rachael McCampbell © 2009 SOLD
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- “Mystic Mother,” Detail of Sculpture by 5.5′ w x 8′ h by Rachael McCampbell © 2009 SOLD
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- “Mystic Mother,” Detail of Sculpture by 5.5′ w x 8′ h by Rachael McCampbell © 2009 SOLD
A percentage of sales will benefit The Land Trust for Tennessee, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving the unique character of Tennessee’s natural and historic landscapes and sites for future generations—land that by default preserves birds, animals and marine life from the danger of extinction. www.landtrusttn.org. McCampbell finds herself personally drawn to the Land Trust’s cause, having seen her family’s 500 acre farm condemned by county officials to build an industrial park. Taking a stand in partnership with this organization, McCampbell hopes to illustrate the importance of preserving our land for birds and animals. “It’s alarming,” McCampbell says. “1,050 species are endangered and another 309 threatened in the United States alone. Everywhere you turn there is more information about the endangerment and near extinction of yet another species. As an artist, I am inspired to not only honor these beautiful creatures by painting them, but to also raise awareness and incite action among the general public. There is no time left for complacency.”
Exhibit runs: March 21 – April 25, 2009 Tinney Contemporary, Nashville, TN
