Acacia: Environmental Impact with Stuart & Jeanne Pearl

Stuart Pearl, Acacia 2014/2018, Digital photographic prints

This August, the Artists Archives of the Western Reserve is proud to host 3 conservation-minded programs as part of its exhibition Environmental Impact: Stress, Hope and Transformation. Environmental Impact is a small group show which focuses on the role of Ohio artists as activists, and features the work of Keith Berr, Palli Davene Davis, Lisa Kenion, Maggie Denk-Leigh, Gary & Laura Dumm, Barbara Gillette, Tatiana Athena Gracyk, Marty Huehner, Stuart Pearl and Gwen Waight.

Acacia: Environmental Impact with Stuart and Jeanne Pearl will be held on Saturday, August 3rd, 1-3pm. In this illustrated lecture, the Pearls will discuss their work documenting the former Acacia Country Club golf course as it is restored back to its natural state. Stuart, an Archived Artist and professional photographer, and Jeanne, a retired critical care registered nurse, having been collectively volunteering for the Metroparks for over 44 years. Now called the Cleveland Metroparks Acacia Reservation, this 155-acre tract of land located in Lyndhurst, was deeded to the park system in 2012. Each Spring, Summer and Fall, Stu and Jeanne navigate to 39 GPS locations across the park and take four directional photographs, compiling them for the park’s Natural Resources staff. These images are used to paint a picture of green space in transition and highlight the healing powers of the planet.

The presentation will not only discuss Acacia’s early history, but also review the current restoration efforts and the park’s importance in the Euclid Creek Watershed.

An installation of over 20 photographs by Stuart mapping this transformation have been included in the Environmental Impact exhibition and will be on view during the presentation.

The program is FREE and open to the public courtesy of a matching grant by Cuyahoga Arts and Culture.

REGISTRATION REQUIRED:  Click HERE to register on Eventbrite or call 216.723.9020 to reserve your spot! Join the conversation on Facebook and share!

More about the speakers:

Stuart’s photographs have been included in publications by the Cleveland Museum of Art and he regularly exhibits in NE Ohio. He lectures on the art of photography and is an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist (OCVN). Jeanne is also an OCVN and leads school groups at Holden. She additionally does a variety of volunteer activities at the North Chagrin Reservation and is a retired critical care registered nurse. For 46 years she worked at area hospitals and has lectured on a variety of nursing topics during hear career.