Exhibition on display at NSNWR

“From the Tallgrass” will be showing at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge through Aug. 21.

Natural heritage is a constant focus in the artwork of Bruce Morrison. Whether it depicts the landscapes of the tallgrass region, or its flora and fauna, “From the Tallgrass” is the road traveled the past couple decades for the artist. If you were to spend any time with him, it would appear this will continue indefinitely as a chosen path.

“I couldn’t think of a more suitable focus and recurrent theme for my work,” Morrison said.

As a painter and photographer, Morrison has been immersed in the prairie and our heritage derived from this environment for quite some time. “This ecosystem is perhaps the most endangered and vanishing ecosystem in North America — certainly in the center of our continent. In my home state of Iowa, there is only an estimated one-tenth of one percent of original prairie habitat remaining. From a state where prairie once dominated to only a fraction of one percent today — that is startling!

“From this ecosystem were born a mix of cultural heritage — first the Native Americans who lived, farmed, hunted, raised families, and died here. The corner of the NW Iowa county in which I live and work has over 80 known sites of early native cultures — one of which is the only known remaining ancient agricultural plot/site in the state of Iowa — just 3 miles from my studio. The Native Americans benefited from the tallgrass ecosystem and thrived in it,” Morrison continued.

“The cultural heritage of my forefathers — the settlers of the prairie, also benefited from what the prairie provided — the best soil in the new world and land as far as the eye could see. This state now experiences the best agricultural land in the world! We too, have benefited from the tallgrass prairie. Our heritage, natural and cultural, has shaped our lives here; they cannot but help to present the subject matter and inspiration I now patiently follow each day.”

The artist follows his interest and focus in his daily life as well. Living on a small piece of prairie remnant, he and his wife, Georgeann, have worked to bring back the native habitat through careful stewardship of their prairie home. The landscape is a favorite subject in the artist’s photography, paintings and drawings, and many of the artist’s works have been published in regional and international periodicals and calendars.

The exhibit will feature canvas prints of drawings and paintings of, or relating to the prairie, as well as prairie related photography. The majority of the work will be tagged with QR coding so exhibit goers can see more in depth information relating to the artist’s work. The artist’s book “From the Tallgrass” will also be available at the Prairie Point Bookstore at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.