ENDANGERED: Art4Apes is delighted to announce that Renée Rivard is our March 2022 Photography Virtual Artist in Residence

Congratulations to Renée Rivard for becoming our March 2022 Photography Virtual Artist in Residence. The Virtual Artist in Residence Program is awarded monthly to the artist (or photographer) who has submitted 3 or more entries to the ENDANGERED Fine Art & Photography Contest and has been selected by the Curatorial Committee as best interpreting the aims of the Contest.

Artist Statement

Born in Florida, I’ve always been a bit of an explorer at heart – inspired by the experience of life and its discovery. As a kid, I was either climbing to the top of a tree to view the world from a new perspective or on my hands and knees in a stream observing life at a smaller scale. As an adult, this translated into a passion for traveling and living abroad – in countries like Australia and New Zealand with unusual and unique wildlife or like Panama with its lush landscapes and concentrated species diversity - and always with my camera. Being drawn to the energy of mountains, I have recently moved to Colorado. I am in constant awe and frequently brought to tears by the majesty of the Rockies.

So many people live lives that appear to be so disconnected from nature, which seems odd and unfortunate to me as I have always been my happiest when engaged with and surrounded by the natural world.

It’s the beauty of not only the obvious like majestic mountains or stunning sunsets but equally the minuscule microcosms of insects and plants that are all around us every second of every day.

To me, the camera allows me the excitement of sharing this connection to nature with the viewer – that unique fleeting moment in time caught by the camera of the beauty of life. The simplicity of life expressed by a delicate butterfly unfurling its long tongue to extrude the sweetness of a flower, and even the plight of wildlife attempting to navigate natural corridors that are now fractured by highways. The vulnerability of nature to man’s own evolution became increasingly obvious to me over the years, which inspired me to connect at a deeper level and to help. This has often been through conservation but more recently has led me down a new path of healing animals, specifically horses.

I encourage people to look around every day; whether in your back yard or in the middle of the city and find a connection with the natural world around you – even if for only a second.

Renée Rivard © 2022 Renée Rivard. All Rights Reserved.

Plans for New Work and Recent Awards

My new passion-driven path in helping animals has most recently led to me becoming an equine massage therapist. Domesticated by humans, they are yet another unwitting participant in the growth of the human species. I found myself becoming increasingly aware of their suffering that accompanied their service to us and soon learned how great relief could be offered to them by the lightest touch. Engaging with these marvelous beings and helping them to live happier, healthier life inspired me to pursue a new professional path. This has also led to new photographic opportunities for horses, and I suspect that they will be a growing subject matter for me in the years to come as my awareness of them and their livelihood increases.

My latest award was an invitation to participate in a group exhibit entitled, Significant Color, at the PH21 Gallery in Budapest in the fall of 2021 with my image “Firestorm.”

Message to Artists

The mission of the ENDANGERED Fine Art & Photography Contest resonated strongly with me as an opportunity to not only contribute to conservation but to do so through photographs; photographs that I had been taking for years that, before now, had little opportunity to make an impact. Reading about the great apes who had become entangled in man’s own evolutionary web as either exotic pets or via the entertainment industry shed light on an issue of which I was previously unaware and reignited my passion for photography and conservation. As an interpretive volunteer for the Western Lowland Gorillas at the San Diego Wild Animal Park, I had previously become aware of the sentience and vulnerability of large primates as well as the importance of funding conservation projects and supporting those who work tirelessly behind the scenes. The visual arts have the ability to convey a complex story in a fleeting glance. They are a powerful means of not only increasing awareness of conservation issues but of instigating change by shedding light on a subject in a unique way that might just move the viewer to make their own impact.

See more of Renée’s work by clicking on the link below:

Instagram: @reneerivardphotography

Website: https://www.reneerivard.com

ENDANGERED: Fine Art & Photography Contest 2021 Submissions

Ancestral Roots. Photograph © 2021 Renée Rivard. All Rights Reserved.
Our primary ally in climate control, ancient forests are not only key for carbon storage and global water cycling but they also play a critical role in supporting wildlife and species diversity. They are our ancestral roots and the foundation of a healthy future.

Firestorm. Photograph © 2021 Renée Rivard. All Rights Reserved.
Slash and burn agriculture methods are devastating to wildlife habitats and species diversity. Additionally, the land is only fertile for a couple of years, which then requires more land to be cleared - a vicious circle. Sustainable farming methods and reforestation are key to healthy environments and food production.

Unsung Hero. Photograph © 2021 Renée Rivard. All Rights Reserved.
Native bees are the key pollinators in most ecosystems, however populations are declining for more than half the species in North America and Hawaii, and approximately 25% are increasingly at risk of extinction. Our world would be a lot less colorful without these tiny, unsung heroes.

See more of Renée’s work below:

A Prickly Path. Photograph © 2022 Renée Rivard. All Rights Reserved.

A native ant to Australia, the Golden-tailed Spiny Ant is common in woodland coastal areas along the east coast. Native insects, including ants, can be valuable indicators in habitat conservation of the health of ecosystems.

Against All Odds. Photograph © 2022 Renée Rivard. All Rights Reserved.

Koala populations in SE Queensland, Australia are severely threatened. Those who are lucky enough to cross the roads that now sever their corridors are confronted with barbed wire fences that guard the ever-dwindling gum trees that have not yet been displaced by invasive camphor laurels.

Lady-like. Photograph © 2022 Renée Rivard. All Rights Reserved.

Ladybugs play a critical role in the regulation of insect populations in natural as well as agricultural ecosystems. Populations of many species are declining due in part to the increased use of chemical insecticides.

Never Look Back. Photograph © 2022 Renée Rivard. All Rights Reserved.

I was blessed to live in an Australian ecovillage founded on a vision of living consciously with people and nature. Over 200 acres were dedicated to remaining natural, which graced us with beautiful wildlife interactions like this kangaroo – symbolic of moving forward even when only the unknown lies ahead.

Orphaned. Photograph © 2022 Renée Rivard. All Rights Reserved.

This orphaned Grey-headed Flying Fox is being assessed by volunteer veterinarians in Australia. Young are often orphaned after severe storms or falling off their mom when she is in flight. This is a vulnerable species; I am grateful to have been a rescuer and rehabilitator of this beautiful species.

The Last Leaf. Photograph © 2022 Renée Rivard. All Rights Reserved.

A member of a US zoo captive breeding program, Alberta is a critically endangered Western Lowland Gorilla. Combined with educating locals about the value of their conservation, strides are being made to prevent their demise. I was fortunate to be a public educator on their behalf.

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR VAiR PROGRAM

The Virtual Artist in Residence Program is awarded monthly to the artist and photographer who have submitted 3 or more entries to the ENDANGERED Fine Art & Photography Contest and have been selected by the Curatorial Committee as best interpreting the aims of the Contest.

Questions? Lindsey@Art4Apes.com