Legacy Land Conservancy permanently protects forests, farmland fields, streams, prairies and waters in Washtenaw and Jackson Counties.  This year Legacy Land Conservancy is undertaking a project to explore and celebrate the benefits which connection to these lands brings to human beings.

The land that supports all the natural systems people depend on for life is vitally important.  Often, we do not take time to recognize this.  Fostering recognition of the connection between land and people is a key component of Legacy’s mission.

The Legacy of the Land Through Art project is a special way to celebrate the generosity of local private landowners who have protected their land in perpetuity.  Legacy Land Conservancy, collaborating with Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Sandhill Crane Vineyards, is presenting two major Art Exhibitions.

Legacy of the Land Through Art is a mixed media juried exhibition open to artists active in Washtenaw and Jackson Counties – areas where Legacy Land Conservancy has preserved properties.  Eighty-nine artists applied for inclusion in this project and 43 were selected.  The selected artists represent an array of media, from oil, pastel, acrylic and photography.  Works will be of varying sizes and will include both two and three-dimensional pieces.

Legacy would like to thank Reinhart Company Realtors (Gala Sponsor), Dahlem Conservancy, the James A. & Faith Knight Foundation, Edith Maynard, Sarah Winans Newman, the Puffin Foundation and Whole Foods Market  for sponsoring the Legacy of the Land Through Art projects.

The first Legacy of the Land Through Art exhibition takes place at the University of Michigan Matthaei Botanical Gardens.  Matthaei is partnering with Legacy to present this mixed media art event.  The exhibition will be open to the public from October 12 through November 10 in the Botanical Gardens building at 1800 North Dixboro Road in Ann Arbor.  Hours are Thursday to Tuesday from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm and Wednesday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.