Beth Shadur

My current work is a series called The National Park Project, in which I consider human impact on pristine landscapes. This work came from a series called Fragility of the Sacred, where I worked in both Iceland and Banff, Canada to look at the impact of climate change on sacred landscapes. I have done over 60 works in this series, and continue to hike, photograph, research and paint pieces that refelct on my understanding of the cultural history, the acquisition of the land by the US National Park System, original use by indigenous peoples, and the current threats to the land from climate change, tourism, light, water and ground pollution, fracking and other industry. I include research and text in the larger paintings of each Park, and then do many small works that highlight the beauty and details of the land.

My paintings reflect on how plants, animals and the land itself is threatened or changed by our negligegence.  It is only through our own care and stewardship that our most pristine spaces, those that I consider sacred and were sacred to Native peoples,, will be protected. We have that responsibility. 

I use watercolor for all of my works, whether large of small. I have painted with watercolor for an extraordinary number of years, and love it for its glowing color, versatility, fluidity and yet response to control. I have also taught for many years as well, at the university level and for various museums and art centers. I teach occasional workshops, and lecture widely on the history of watercolor and on contemporary watercolor, In addition, I have curated many exhibitions, and serve on the Board of  Trustees of the National Watercolor Honor Society in the US.