Through hundreds of hours canoeing the Louisiana and Florida wetlands I have grown a deep love and appreciation for the diversity of the thriving ecosystems and interconnected wetlands along the Gulf coast. Years of logging and dredging of oil and gas canals have eroded and polluted our wetlands. Without fresh sediment from the Mississippi river to combat this loss, these environments are increasingly threatened. As an artist, I believe these spaces must be observed and documented in order to increase awareness of these issues and to preserve, from an artistic perspective, a memory of what we have and may still lose.My recent series of cypress and wetland prints are large and grandiose to reflect the awe that is felt when standing next to majestic old and living cypress and hardwoods that have survived a century of human exploitation. Through images gathered in live sketching, photographs and research I aim to capture the raw natural beauty and abundant wildlife of still unspoiled and untamed swamplands. I’m thrilled to team up with Gulf Restoration Network and am deeply honored to be showcased in their conference room! I look forward to picking the brains of many scientists and activists in the months to come!!Pippin’s background includes a BFA with honors in printmaking from the Rhode Island School of Design, a residency in Providence (RI), a study of large scale woodcuts abroad in Indonesia, a residency at Big Cypress National Preserve (FL), a residency and teaching position in Haiti, and special showings at a number of galleries, including in New Orleans, Florida, Maine, Denver, Providence (RI), and Yogyakarta (Indonesia). For inquiries about the artist, please contact Pippin Frisbie-Calder at pippinfrisbie@gmail.com
