Painting with blue, white, and black designs and paintings of a rabbit, owl, and ships on the left and red background paint with a painting of a deer sitting and an owl on its back to the right

Un/Natural Selections: Wildlife in Contemporary Art

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September 10, 2022 - January 8, 2023

Lightcatcher Building

Un/Natural Selections: Wildlife in Contemporary Art considers the diverse ways that contemporary artists employ animal imagery to address humanity’s interconnectedness and ever-changing relationship with the natural world. Comprising of approximately 50 artworks (c. 2000-2019) traveling exclusively from the permanent collection of the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, WY, this exhibition offers a wide range of works in a variety of media divided into four thematic sections: Tradition, Politics, Science, and Aesthetics. These sections act as overlapping chapters, investigating the ways we use animal imagery to tackle human concerns.

Un/Natural Selections is organized by the National Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, Wyoming and generously sponsored by Art Bridges. Additional support provided by Heritage Bank, Jean Andresen, a Pandemic Relief Grant from ArtsWA (sub-granted from the National Endowment for the Arts), the Whatcom Museum Foundation, and the City of Bellingham. This exhibition is presented in both Spanish and English.

Logo with a line drawing of a male elk and the words National Museum of Wildlife Art to the right of the drawing Graphic shape with triangles and cubes of red, orange, dark blue, and chartreuse designed into the shape of Washington state with the words ARTSWA in white overlaying and the words Washington State Arts Commission in blue underneath the shape

Black rectangle with the words National Endowment for the Arts, arts.gov in white and a red white and blue stripe underlining the words

 

 

 

Member Preview Reception
Fri., Sept. 9, 5 – 7pm; Lightcatcher building
Members, join us for our opening reception and enjoy wine, appetizers, and music while getting a sneak peek of this exhibition.

Featured image (above): Julie Buffalohead (Enrolled Member of the Ponca Tribe, United States, b. 1972); Six-Pack Colonialism, 2018; Oil on canvas; 29.25 × 82 in. Gift of the 2019 Blacktail Gala, National Museum of Wildlife Art. © Julie Buffalohead. M2019.006

Selecciones Un/Natural: Arte Contemporáneo de Vida Silvestre compuesta exclusivamente de obras pertenecientes a la colección permanente del Museo Nacional de Arte de Vida Silvestre en Jackson, WY. Esta exposición ofrece una amplia variedad de obras en una diversidad de medios que se dividen en cuatro secciones temáticas: tradición, política, ciencia y estética. Estos campos actúan como capítulos superpuestos e investigan las maneras en que utilizamos la imaginería animal para afrontar preocupaciones humanas.

Selecciones Un/Natural fue organizado por el Museo Nacional de Arte de Vida Silvestre en Jackson, Wyoming y es generosamente patrocinado por Art Bridges, ArtsWA, Jean Andresen y Heritage Bank. La exhibición es presentado en español y ingles.

Painting of wolf face looking sideways with red and white abstract designs over it's left side
Oil painting of an owl sitting on a branch surrounded by fall colored leaves and other birds floating around
Acrylic and ink over reproduction Audubon print of a seagull tangled in a red flower vine
Etching, aquatint, and drypoint painting of a wild turkey
Sculpture of an elephant head made out of wood, string, ink and paint
Bronze sculpture of three rhinoceros stacked on top of each other

The Whatcom Museum acknowledges that we gather on the traditional territory of the Lhaq’temish – Lummi People – and the Nuxwsá7aq – Nooksack People – who have lived in the Coast Salish region from time immemorial. The Museum honors our relationship with all of our Coast Salish neighbors and our shared responsibilities to their homeland where we all reside today.

El Museo Whatcom reconoce que nos reunimos en el territorio tradicional de las personas Lummi y Nooksack, que han vivido en la región de Coast Salish desde tiempos inmemoriales. El Museo honra nuestra relación con todos nuestros vecinos de Coast Salish y nuestras responsabilidades compartidas con su tierra natal donde todos residimos hoy.

“Passport to the Natural World” is a companion program to Un/Natural Selections created for local college and university students. Students can pick up a passport booklet at the Museum’s Lightcatcher building, participate in a variety of programs, and collect stamps to receive entry into a fun, free event, “Museum After Dark.” Click here to learn more about the program and how to participate.