October 29, 2000
through
January 21, 2001



Suggested Links:

The Andy Warhol Museum
Pittsburgh, PA

US Fish & Wildlife Service
Endangered Species Program

In 1983, Andy Warhol created a series of ten color screenprints that portrayed endangered animals from around the world: Siberian tiger, San Francisco silverspot, orangutan, Grevy's zebra, black rhinoceros, bighorn ram, African elephant, pine barrens tree frog, giant panda and bald eagle. Using brilliant colors -- characteristic of his signature style -- and poignant expressions suggestive of the animal's fate, Warhol creates a dynamic tension between art and reality.

The Endangered Species portfolio was commissioned by Ronald and Frayda Feldman, long-time political and environmental activists who support innovative art projects and installations through their art gallery, Ronald Feldman Fine Art, New York. According to the Feldman's, the idea for the portfolio emerged after conversations with Warhol about ecological issues that included a discussion about beach erosion. Warhol was always interested in animals and when Ronald Feldman proposed the idea, the artist embraced it. Today, the loss of habitat and biodiversity are still hot topics as the impact of development reaches critical thresholds. These issues have particular relevance to North Carolina, the fourth fastest growing state in the country.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Dr. Catherine Lohmann, a biologist with an expertise in animal behavior and lecturer at UNC-CH, will examine the current status of each animal and provide information that will be displayed next to each print in the exhibition. Lohman's research, published in Nature and the Journal of Experimental Biology, focuses on the navigation of sea turtles.

The Carolina Environmental Program (CEP) at UNC-CH and the Ackland Art Museum will cosponsor a free lecture by Dr. David Wilcove, senior ecologist with Environmental Defense in Washington, D.C. and author of The Condor's Shadow: Loss and Recovery of Wildlife in America?, on Wednesday, November 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hanes Art Center Auditorium. A reception at the Ackland will follow the lecture.

Endangered Species is organized by Barbara Matilsky, curator of exhibitions and funded in part by the William Hayes Ackland Trust.