This summer, the LA Arts Gallery will host an exhibition of drawings created by artist Michele Lauriat during her inspiring residency in the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. Entitled “Sanctuary,” the show features delicate graphite pieces reflecting Lauriat’s up-close observations of the refuge’s captivating landscapes and inhabitants.
As the refuge’s first ever Artist-in-Residence, Lauriat was granted unique access to this normally restricted coastal habitat. Her intricate drawings provide entrancing views of a diverse ecosystem populated with shorebirds, seals, horseshoe crabs, and more. Works like “Sanderling Sandpipers at Dusk” and “Mudflat at Low Tide” transport viewers right into the midst of these serene natural settings.
Beyond portraying the refuge’s ecological wonders, the exhibition also sheds light on the continuing influence of Rachel Carson, whose writings first spurred the establishment of the sanctuary. Lauriat’s residency and reverent drawings are a testament to Carson’s legacy as an early conservationist and environmental activist.
By showcasing Lauriat’s marvelous graphite illustrations depicting the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge’s primordial beauty and ecological significance, the LA Arts Gallery’s “Sanctuary” exhibition offers a transcendent escape into nature alongside insights into the importance of environmental conservation.