The Ecological Reflections Project
WHAT: Ecological Reflections is a nationwide network of programs dedicated to long-term, interdisciplinary reflections at sites of ecological or cultural importance.
Learn more about this nationwide network and participating projects:
The ACRES Land Trust 200-year Ecological Reflections project will compile commissioned work by artists, humanities scholars and scientists, as an investigation into and reflection on how a particular place changes through time.
WHERE: ACRES Wing Haven preserve near Angola with an artist studio, pictured, right, and rich diversity of plants, birds, mammals, and aquatic species in 3 major ecosystems: glacially carved kettle-hole lakes bordered by a wetland fen system; upland forests and rolling grasslands/meadows.
WHEN: 2017 – 2217
WHY: A “short-term” project of 200 years helps you and future generations visualize land in the scale of forever. Curating work in the arts, humanities and sciences from a specific place over two centuries will provide a wealth of content, inspiring people to see land and its protection in a new way.
HOW: ACRES is working with professionals to outline art and humanities commission guidelines and science protocols.
To fund the project, ACRES has placed seed money in an endowment and will use interest on this endowment to pay artists and scientists.
The Lupke Foundation, Steuben County Community Foundation, Edward & Hildegarde Schaefer Foundation, Edward M. and Mary McCrea Wilson Foundation, and the Dr. Samuel D., and Martha B. and Mabel I. Sledd Foundation are supporting the project. This project is also made possible by the support of the Indiana Arts Commission, Arts United and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
ACRES’ goal is for the endowment to reach $1 million. At this level, the project will support a full-fledged artist in residence program with artists living and creating art at Wing Haven for 3 to 6 months, and robust ongoing science research on the property.
About ACRES Land Trust
ACRES Land Trust owns and protects natural and working land, inspiring people to value, appreciate and support these places for the benefit of all—today and forever.
ACRES will protect Wing Haven for 200 years—and beyond.
ACRES Land Trust is a nonprofit, supported by people like you who join as members by making a donation of $20 or more.
Together, ACRES members protect thousands of forests, streams, fields and other natural features in our region.
You can help safeguard tristate area land forever and support our Ecological Reflections project.
ACRES Land Trust values:
- a growing awareness of people’s place within and responsibility to the natural world.
- the intrinsic and diverse benefits of natural places and the life they sustain.
- individuals’, families’ and communities’ compelling desire to preserve our local land.
- owning and managing land as a means to protect it.
- a long-term perspective in planning, decision-making and acting on behalf of future generations.
ACRES members protect over 7,200 acres of local natural area and working land in northeast Indiana, northwest Ohio and southern Michigan, forever. Explore some of ACRES Land Trust’s protected places from more than 50 trail systems: enjoy family time, get outdoors, plan a field trip, get fit, reflect on nature’s beauty or share an adventure, for free from dawn to dusk at a preserve near you.
Photo by Shane Perfect