The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Tom Steele and The Nature Conservancy are pleased to announce the Fifth Annual Labor Day Landscape Show, titled “A Walk on the Wild Side: Beaches Bays and Salt Marshes of the East End”, on Friday, September 4, 2009.

Works by 13 notable East End artists explore the natural beauty and drama of the East End landscape. The fifth annual exhibition will be held at Ashawagh Hall, Springs, East Hampton on Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7 from 10am to 5pm daily. A portion of the sales from the exhibit will be donated to The Nature Conservancy. The public is invited to attend the opening reception on Saturday September 5th from 5 – 8 pm.

“Landscape artists, in search of their subject matter, perspective and composition, are often exploring the East End Landscape at all hours of the day and in all weather conditions. This years exhibition, “A Walk on the Wild Side,” showcases these explorations and the work of many talented East End artists. More importantly, the exhibition highlights a natural ecosystem and habitat that exists today in part due to the work of The Nature Conservancy,” said photographer Tom Steele, organizer of the event. “As artists, we want to share our view of the landscape and express the impact The Nature Conservancy has had in preserving our East End landscape”. The works on exhibit include traditional representational landscape paintings, impressionistic and abstract works. Mediums include paintings, photography, glass and tapestries.

The thirteen exhibiting artists are: Tom Steele, Casey Chalem Anderson, Gordon Matheson, Grant Haffner, Gail Kern, Barbara Groot, Barbara Pintauro Lobosco, Mary Milne, Pat Moran, Susan Nash, Leo Revi, Joanne Rosko and Pamela Topham.

This exhibition reflects the continuing relationship and dependence between artists who are inspired by the landscape and conservation groups. Nature as subject matter for many artists is quickly disappearing as open space and sensitive ecosystems are encroached upon. The work of these artists promotes awareness and an appreciation of the natural beauty and fragility of the landscape, and ties in to the mission of The Nature Conservancy to preserve nature and protect life.

“Nature is a source of inspiration, relaxation and repose for so many of us,” said Nancy Kelley, executive director of The Nature Conservancy on Long Island. “Artists make a wonderful and meaningful contribution to conservation through their depiction of the natural world. We are delighted to be a part of this exhibition and thrilled that we have helped protect some of the places from which the artists have drawn their inspiration.”

The Nature Conservancy has long been involved in protecting critical habitat including places like the Atlantic Double Dunes, Accabonac Harbor, the Montauk moorlands and grasslands, Napeague, Northwest Woods, Northwest Harbor, the Long Pond Greenbelt, Scallop Pond, North Sea, Quantuck Creek in Quogue, Western Flanders Bay, the eastern Pine Barrens and the remaining forested groundwater recharge areas of the South Fork.

In addition to preservation, the management and restoration of our key ecological areas — forests, dunes, bays, harbors, and wetlands— is essential.

Ashawagh Hall is located at the corner of Springs Fireplace Road and Old Stone Highway in Springs, East Hampton. For more information about the artists or the exhibition call (631) 987-7005 or visit www.EastEndLandscapes.com. For more information on The Nature Conservancy call (631) 329-7689 or visit The Nature Conservancy's Long Island page.