Capturing West Michigan’s enduring places
With the sweep of a brush or the click of a camera, a moment and place in time is preserved. It is through art that we understand the past and inspire the future, and it is through conservation that the natural areas around us are preserved for future generations to visit and enjoy in perpetuity.
For 50 years, the Land Conservancy of West Michigan has worked to conserve West Michigan’s ecologically critical land. Preserved! is one way the Land Conservancy has invited artists to help tell that story. Hosted in 2015, 2017, and 2019 under the guidance of the late artist Susan M. Rose, Preserved! celebrates the beauty of our local landscapes and the importance of protecting them forever.
This year, as we mark 50 years of conservation in West Michigan, we’re bringing Preserved! back. The Land Conservancy of West Michigan is collaborating with local artists to highlight the beauty of the natural areas we have protected together over the last half-century—and draw awareness to the importance of continuing our conservation efforts for the next 50 years and beyond. During the spring, summer, and fall of 2026, participating artists will visit the Land Conservancy’s protected properties to create their art en plein air. Their experiences and work will be shared on the Land Conservancy’s blog and social media, at live demo events throughout the season, and in a gallery exhibition in the fall.
In October of 2026, the art created through the Preserved! program will be shown at LaFontsee Galleries in Grand Rapids.
Preserved! is an opportunity for artists, nature lovers, and the greater community to join together and celebrate the scenic land that surrounds us in West Michigan.
