"Great article. Congratulations. It occurred to me that what makes the guardian project unique is that these are really the Guardians' guardians. Selected by guardians themselves. Not by some politically correct committee. Insiders who have been there. There is a 'genuine' factor at work here that is unique. Proud to be part of it all." - Ed Carlson, Director Emeritus of Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
We invite you to participate in a unique and powerful tribute to the Guardians of the Everglades®.
- Portraits of the Guardians of the Everglades® in the style of the Old Masters by artist Nicholas Petrucci
- Clyde Butcher's immense landscape photographs
- Diaphanous banners of native orchids and other threatened species by photographer Connie Bransilver
- A documentary film that brings the art and its subjects to life
- Art, conservation, and human interaction art book published by ORO Editions
The message is inescapable: the Everglades ecosystem is unique, necessary for our health, and important to people all over the world. It must be conserved. Join us in celebrating the lives of the Guardians of the Everglades® in an innovative, multi-media art, conservation and education exhibition.
Cynthia and David Fiber visited our reception at Museum of the Everglades and David wrote following his visit. We want to share his touching words.“When you look at the Guardians of the Everglades® in Nicholas’ paintings you are suddenly brought aware of the human relationship to the environmental issues surrounding the Everglades restoration and preservation. The tendency so often is to see environmental issues only in the context of land, water, air, flora, fauna and forget about the human history entwined therein. You cannot look at the strength of the characters in the paintings without becoming directly aware that the Everglades is as much a human heritage as an environmental one. The paintings remind us that once we had great ties to this ecosystem, lived within its context and drew strength from it, and how much we have diminished ourselves by neglecting that heritage. Each Guardian, in the power of their representation, reminds us that to be human, we must respect, and protect, the natural forces that gave us birth and give us breath. Connie’s screenings remind us of both the beauty and the transparent fragility of the Everglades. The Guardians stand guard. The paintings stand guard over the screens. An apt and effective juxtaposition.” ~David Fiber