Meredith Williams
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Mikailie Kelsey
Contributing Writer
In a world facing unprecedented climate challenges, artists such as Philip Juras use their creativity to bring attention to the beneficial aspects of natural disasters on fragile ecosystems. In Juras’s exhibit, Studying the Landscape: Observation, Conservation, and Restoration, these concepts are explored in 25 different landscape oil paintings. From January 16 to March 31, 2024, this art exhibition will be featured in our University Art Gallery (UAG).
Juras graduated from the University of Georgia with a BFA, majoring in Drawing and Painting. Following his undergraduate years, Juras pursued a master’s degree in landscape architecture because “I didn’t want to make art for a living, so I went to graduate school.” This led him to work in the landscape architecture field. Juras is a prescribed burn team member at the Georgia Natural Resources Department. The majority of Juras’s time creating a painting or a body of work is spent on research, travel, and studying natural history. Only about 15-20% of Juras’s time spent on projects is the physical painting itself.
The UAG explains how Juras “turns that visual tradition [landscape painting] to close observation of lesser-known and forgotten ecosystems, to invite conservation and restoration.” Juras depicts grasslands, sand prairies, and woodlands in different eras, some before the American colonization and settlement, some before prescribed burning, and some after. The artwork in this exhibit conveys Juras’s fondness for these landscapes and his intent to call attention to these neglected ecosystems.
Juras intends to educate viewers on the value of certain natural “disasters” that aid these ecosystems. “These paintings aim to address that discrepancy by portraying forgotten grassland and woodland ecosystems that are once again benefiting from our attention,” said Juras. Juras’s works encourage conversation about prescribed fires, floods, mass grazing, and their beneficial effects. One of the underlying themes of Studying the Landscape: Observation, Conservation, and Restoration is the impact of human intervention on landscapes and how it can be instrumental in preserving native plants.
The subject of wildland fire and preservation has been a significant influence on Juras’s work. Juras said. “It takes only ten to fifteen minutes to capture the artwork in smaller frames. During active fires, the flames happen so wild and fast, so it is imperative that I take photos and paint on site.”
To create one of his highly finished paintings, Juras said, “My lifetime of experience assists me, and my background research helps me find more specific information. There is a lot of mental back and forth on where I am going next. It can take months or years and be completely sidetracked if the projects don’t align with mutual goals. Working on a prairie takes a lot of time and travel.”
Philip Juras’s exhibition has drawn in many classes through the spring semester, from environmental classes such as Dr. Jensen’s Intro to Environmental Arts and Humanities and Dr. Michaels’s Senior Capstone Environmental Arts and Humanities, Dr. Wells’s Ecology class, and Dr. Watson’s Intro to Environmental Studies, as well as art and art history classes such as Dr. Todd’s Global Baroque, Dr. Maclaren’s Modern and Postmodern Architecture, Dr. Thompson’s Earth Art and Eco Action, Dr. Wohl’s Sketchbook, and Dr. Martini’s Italian class. Groups from the surrounding area have included students from Sewanee Elementary, and the Sewanee Children’s Center. In keeping with the UAG’s mission of allowing students to get to know artists and explore the intentions behind their work, Jura s’ exhibition has allowed students on campus and beyond to learn the benefits of controlled forest fires. Over a hundred visitors from all over the southeast region came to hear Philip Juras at his artist reception in late January. Following a powerful speech on conservation and restoration, community members were invited to continue the conversation about prairie landscapes.
Juras’ combined focus of art and fire for conservation is particularly relevant to the Cumberland Plateau, where regular controlled burning practices conducted by Sewanee’s Prescribed Burn team helps to preserve the natural beauty of our 13,000-acre domain. The careful execution of prescribed burns ensures positive outcomes and reduces wildfire risk. These intentional fires emulate natural ecological processes, fostering biodiversity for flora and fauna. These burns are vital tools for cultivating education and environmental integrity for the Sewanee community. Juras said, “They’re [prescribed burns] set not only to reduce hazardous fuel loads but also to diversify the mosaic of forest cover- creating ideal conditions for native plants and animals.”