The Sasse Museum of Art is pleased to contribute works from our collection for this timely exhibition that brings together artists whose work contemplates the evolving relationship between humans and the natural world. From sweeping vistas to intimate studies of flora and fauna, the selected pieces reflect a collective yearning to reconnect with nature amid an era of ecological disruption.

In a time marked by rising temperatures, wildfires, drought, and biodiversity loss, these artworks serve as both witness and elegy—reminding us of what remains and what may be lost. Some artists depict the land in reverent stillness, while others render it with dynamic urgency, capturing moments on the cusp of transformation.

The California Vision

Millard Sheets and Milford Zornes, central figures of the California Scene Painting movement, embodied this dialogue in their own era. Sheets celebrated the coastal beauty and civic vitality of mid-century California, while Zornes elevated the elemental grandeur of mountains, valleys, and deserts. Today, their works resonate not only as records of abundance and permanence but also as poignant reminders of what has grown fragile under climate pressures.

Art as Testimony

Ultimately, the exhibition underscores the role of artists as both historians and visionaries. They preserve memories of places once seen as timeless while inviting dialogue about the uncertain future of our shared environment. By revisiting these works through the lens of climate change, we are invited to reflect on what has shifted, what is endangered, and what might yet be reimagined.

These past symbols of optimism now compel us to consider the urgency of forging a more sustainable balance with the natural world we share. Through the generous contribution of works from the Sasse Museum of Art's collection, visitors encounter not just beautiful objects, but urgent testimonies to our changing planet.