The Finger Lakes Chapter
of the
Guild of Natural Science Illustrators
Current and Upcoming Exhibits
"A Stand of Artists: The Art and Science of Collective Animal Groups"
Location: Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA), 330 State Street, Ithaca, NY
Show Dates: Opening Friday August 1st from 5-8pm; on view throughout the month of August.
Description: Behind each collective noun of an animal group there is a historical lexicon rich in whimsical descriptors. In this exhibit, our “stand of artists”* present artistically diverse images of interesting animal groups and offer back stories behind their collective nouns. The artists also share scientific information about their subject and may even wax poetic about why the animal resonates with them.
*A “stand of artists” refers to a gathering or group of individuals who are skilled in various forms of artistic expression. Within this collective noun phrase, artist come together with their distinctive talents, expertise, and creativity. When united, these artists form a dynamic and vibrant community, sharing ideas, inspiration and knowledge. (http://collectivenounslist.com)
Exhibit Catalogs
Click on the thumbnail images below to open the full PDF exhibit catalogs, where you can read more about the theme and view the artwork that was included in the exhibit.
Additional Past Exhibits
The Art of Symbiosis
Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts
5 McLallen St, Trumansburg NY 14886
April 6, 2024 - May 10, 2024
Opening Reception April 6, 2024 from 4-6pm
The natural world has evolved over billions of years by developing extraordinary relationships between different species and populations. These symbiotic relationships, both cooperative and destructive, demonstrate the importance of long-term partnerships for a healthy ecosystem. From mysterious microscopic organisms to amazing plant life, insects, and large mammals including humans, many species' survival is interdependent on one another.
We invite you to view an exhibition featuring works by the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators - Finger Lakes Chapter. The exhibition brings art and science together to help us understand the importance of interconnectivity and how better-informed decisions will help address the challenges of biodiversity loss, food insecurity and environmental conservation.
The Art of Symbiosis
Mann Library Gallery
Cornell University
September 5, 2023 - January 15, 2024
The natural world has evolved over billions of years by developing extraordinary relationships between different species and populations. These symbiotic relationships, both cooperative and destructive, demonstrate the importance of long-term partnerships for a healthy ecosystem. From mysterious microscopic organisms to amazing plant life, insects, and large mammals including humans, many species' survival is interdependent on one another.
This exhibit brought art and science together to help us understand the importance of interconnectivity and how better-informed decisions will help address the challenges of biodiversity loss, food insecurity and environmental conservation.
poster design: Jenny Leijonhufvud (c) 2023
Drawn to the Water: Life In and Around the Waters of the Finger Lakes
Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts
March 20 - May 21, 2021
The Finger Lakes region, sculpted by glaciers beginning two million years ago, is an area with an abundance of water. Creeks, ponds, marshes, vernal pools, springs, the Finger Lakes themselves, are home to thousands of living beings. For this exhibit, the members of the Finger Lakes Chapter of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators chose to depict some of the many animals and plants dependent on the waters that form these ecosystems.
GNSI Finger Lakes Members Show
Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts
5 McLallen Street, Trumansburg, NY 14886
February 22 - April 4, 2020
This show featured diverse works from group members in a variety of media.
Worth a Thousand Words: The How and Why of Scientific Illustration
Mann Library, 2nd floor, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
February 2 - March 31, 2019
Our quest for knowledge about the natural world is an intrinsic part of our humanity. From the first cave-paintings to the most advanced computer illustrations of today, art has served to clarify and codify our scientific knowledge. Scientific illustrators translate complex facts into pictures, creating images that aid in the understanding of science and nature. With this new winter exhibit at Mann Library, we invite you to come inside from the cold to enjoy the world of science and art, featuring pieces by the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators - Finger Lakes Chapter.
poster design: Jenny Leijonhufvud (c) 2019
Marsh Madness
We presented our illustrations of the flora and fauna of New York State Wetlands in our exhibition, Marsh Madness. Our art was accompanied by Daniel Elswits's photographs of wetlands in Upstate NY and the Adirondacks. This travelling exhibition was on view during 2013 and 2014 at the Cumming Nature Center in Naples, NY; the Cornell Lab of Ornithology; the Community School of Music and Art in Ithaca, NY; the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge; Lime Hollow Nature Preserve in Cortland, NY, and Kendal of Ithaca (NY).
painting at right: "Skunk Cabbage" by Gretchen Halpert, (c) 2013
The Sweet Voiced Bird Has Flown: Portraits of Common Birds in Decline
A Project of the Finger Lakes Chapter of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators in collaboration with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology 2009-2010.
See our paintings at http://www.margynelson.com/common-birds-home.html
painting at right: "Eastern meadowlark" by Camille Doucet, (c) 2009
