Climate change exhibit opens May 5 in Ashland

A traveling art and science exhibition focusing on climate change in the Lake Superior region will open Saturday, May 5, at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center in Ashland. An opening reception will be held at the center at 4 p.m. that day.

The exhibition, titled "Paradise Lost? Climate Change in the Northwoods," features artwork by 20 area artists who were commissioned to illustrate this issue, as well as educational materials on climate change and action steps for individuals interested in reducing their greenhouse gas emissions.

To mark the opening of the exhibition, the gallery will host a number of events on Saturday, May 5, designed to feature the perspectives and experiences of some of the artists, scientists and educators involved in this project. There will be scientific presentations from 2 – 3 p.m.; a panel discussion featuring artists and scientists from 3:15 – 4 p.m.; and a catered reception featuring live flute music performed by a participating artist starting at 4 p.m. The exhibition and related events are free and open to the public.

Before making a stop in Ashland, this exhibition toured through Rhinelander and Ironwood, Mich. It will continue on to Manitowish Waters, Wis.; Calumet, Mich.; and Wausau before making a final stop in Madison in early 2008.

This project is sponsored by the UW–Madison's Center for Biology Education and the department of forest ecology and management. Main collaborators include the UW-Trout Lake Research Station and the North Lakeland Discovery Center. Funding came from the Ira and Ineva Reilly Baldwin Wisconsin Idea Endowment and the Wisconsin Arts Board.

For more about the project, visit http://www.news.wisc.edu/12738.html. The Web site for the exhibit is at http://www.wisc.edu/cbe/K12/paradiselost.html.