Catherine Prose

I began using representations of nature in my art work during my graduate thesis in 1999 as a way of identifying my position as a pantheist. The art work was not about being a pantheist or becoming a pantheist as it was about recognizing myself as organic in an organic world.

In 2006, I became interested in collecting research on endangered and threatened species and consistently came across one large obstacle: the availability and access of those species I was interested in using in my art work was limited. The collection of research for my art work at that time was predominantly spent collecting images from internet searches and library books. There was no actual experience with the species. In addition, some species I was interested in researching had no information available on them because no one else was researching their sustainability.

For this research project Red Listed, I was became increasingly invested in moving my process away from the solo experience of the studio to one of actual experience and first hand account. So, I began trying to narrow my focus by primarily using species categorized on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List and in captive care.

My final research of collecting images of species was conducted in coordination with Brian Aucone, general curator at the Oklahoma City Zoo. I made four visits to the OKC Zoo, taking photograph images of animals identified as having status on the IUCN Red List.

Andean Condor
Near Threatened

Blue-Eyed Black Lemur
Critically Endangered

Puerto Rican Crested Toad
Vulnerable

Sumatran Tiger and Corpse Flower
Critically Endangered