Exhibit Description

A traveling, educational exhibit and enchanting visual story that illuminates the essential nature of the Southwest’s unique and threatened spring ecosystems and the rare and endemic animals and plants that depend upon them.

Dotting the landscape throughout the Southwest, springs are oases of life in otherwise arid lands. Surrounded by desert, short grass prairie, or dry mountains, plants and animals have evolved in isolation in these oases for millennia. A single spring can harbor rare species found nowhere else in the world. Compared to lakes or oceans, the total land mass springs occupy within the landscape may be small, but by some estimates, these ecosystems support more than 20 percent of the endangered species in the United States. In a landscape where water is in short supply, spring ecosystems create corridors - highways from spring to spring - that provide water, refuge, and relief for thousands of species. In the arid Southwest, this ancient water means life — unique life found nowhere else on earth. As “windows into the earth,” springs emerge from water supplies that can be a a few hours or thousands of years old, they are sensitive indicators of our groundwater supply and climate change. Through this exhibit, the audience will learn about opportunities to steward springs in the Southwest through everything from simple actions to long-term volunteering and funding.

With Santa Fe as my home base, I have been capturing impactful images for over a decade which I put to work in support of conservation of nature mostly focused on the Southwestern United States but also throughout the Americas. My work has been featured in publications such as Outdoor Photographer, bioGraphic, National Geographic online, Scientific American, New Mexico Magazine, Mongabay, Ensia, and The Guardian, among others. I am the author of Best Wildflower Hikes of New Mexico (FalconGuides, March 2020), New Mexico Family Outdoor Adventures (UNM Press, September 2021), and producer and co-director of the feature documentary Saving Beauty: Learning to Live with the Rare Ones Among Us. I am also a member of the International League of Conservation Photographers, dedicated professional photographers driving conservation impact through ethical visual storytelling. Learn more about me and my work here.

EXHIBIT SPECS

Rental Fee:

$2,000 + shipping for suggested 8-week booking (other timelines available)

Audience:

General

Size:

Approx. 100 linear feet depending on installation type

Exhibition Components:

• 20 images + 1 title panel. [PRINTING TBD] Most images are horizontal in aspect with a few vertical images.

• Text panels ranging in size [TBD] featuring explanatory and descriptive information and QR codes linked to online exhibit.

• Exhibition press kit

• Online exhibit connected through QR codes with customizable calls-to-action

• Post cards, greeting cards, fine art prints for visitor centers available upon request (provided at wholesale cost and/or on consignment). A percentage of sales of these products is donated to springs conservation.

Schedule and Availability

APRIL - MAY 2024 AVAILABLE

JUNE - JULY 2024 AVAILABLE

AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2024 AVAILABLE

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2024 AVAILABLE

Contact me to discuss booking dates!

FAQs

How does the exhibit support conservation of springs?

An impactful image can often bring about change. A series of images that tells a compelling story is sure to grab an audience’s attention and live in the hearts of viewers. In a visually-based society, conservation photography harnesses the power of storytelling to further conservation goals. (Learn more about conservation storytelling here.) This exhibit shares a story that sheds light on environmental and cultural issues, solutions, and efforts; with the goal of making a positive change for this overlooked western forest ecosystem.

The exhibit is just one piece of my broader project on springs in the Southwest that supports conservation of the jays and this important ecosystem. Learn more about this project here.

Many researchers have generously donated their time to answer my questions and allowed me to tag along in the field to photograph and learn about their work to conserve springs. I donate images to collaborating scientists to use in their reports and presentations, deepening their impact.

I also collaborate with Springs Stewarship Institute to promote their community science programs and raise awareness about actions people can take on behalf of springs.

Finally, a percentage of the sales of exhibition products such as postcards, greeting cards, and fine art prints are donated back to my partner groups working on this conservation issue.

Who can host the exhibit?

Museums, nature centers, botanical gardens, zoos, open spaces, wildlife refuges, parks, schools, colleges, and other locations with outdoor venues large enough to install the exhibit. I encourage venues to partner with groups and organizations working on pinyon jay or related conservation efforts to bring the exhibit to your area.

What do I receive for my rental fee?

You receive a complete package: a ready-to-install product, full press materials, interpretive materials, and my commitment to assist you in any way to ensure a successful booking and public experience.

How long is the exhibit rental period?

I recommend a minimum of 8 weeks for audiences to find and visit the exhibition in your area but I can work with requests for other timelines.

If you would like to rent the exhibit for more than 6 months, please contact me to discuss licensing options for your own semi-permanent installation.

How big is the exhibition?

The image panels are 2.5’x4’. With 20 images the exhibition is a minimum of 80 linear feet. Additional room should be calculated depending on the type of installation. Click here to see a folder with visual examples of installation options for this exhibit.

What are the requirements to host this exhibit?

Please read the Environmental and Security requirements to consider here [LINK COMING SOON].

I don’t recommend installing the exhibit during the heavy winter months in areas with snow and storms, the vinyl banners may not hold up in that kind of weather and require frequent reprint and replacement. Depending on your area, consider March - November the best months for this exhibit to be displayed outside.

Host will need to build out the frames and hardware to install the exhibit. Images of suggested installation styles can be viewed here.

I also ask that host venues submit a FINAL REPORT within 30 days of the exhibit’s close. This report details your exhibit experience, programming, and attendance stats.

How do I book the exhibition?

Easy! Contact me with your preferred booking dates and I’ll get back to you to discuss.

The exhibition costs are beyond my budget, can we collaborate on fundraising to bring the exhibit to my area?

Yes! Let’s discuss. I have nearly 20 years of grant writing experience and would be happy to collaborate on grant writing and other fundraising efforts if the exhibit costs feel beyond reach for your venue/conservation group/organization.