Preserve
An installation by Preserve Collaborative
UW Arboretum, Madison, WI
June 8 - Sept 27, 2025
Made possible by the City of Madison’s
Blink Temporary Public Art Program
"The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant, 'What good is it?' If the land mechanism as a whole is good, then every part is good, whether we understand it or not. If the biota, in the course of aeons, has built something we like but do not understand, then who but a fool would discard seemingly useless parts? To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering."
Aldo Leopold, Round River: From the Journals of Aldo Leopold
In Wisconsin’s Driftless Region, life flourishes. In Sauk County alone, a staggering 4,500 species have been documented. Preserve is a testament to this magnificent diversity and draws inspiration from the wisdom of esteemed conservationist Aldo Leopold, who advocated for the care of every component of our natural world. Preserve connects us to the natural world and to Leopold’s imperative to save all the parts.
The design of Preserve was inspired by the Aldo Leopold Shack. Located in Sauk County, the Shack was once a chicken coop that Leopold renovated into a retreat in the 1930s and was used by his family on weekends and summers. It served as the backdrop to Leopold’s best-selling book, A Sand County Almanac, which has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide and celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2024. In 1978 the Shack was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Preserve was originally installed in Sauk Country, WI, October 5-14, 2024, as part of the WormFarm Institute's Farm/Art DTour.
Visitors to Preserve are immersed in a display of approximately 1,000 images of species found in Wisconsin. Preserve Collaborative either has been given permission to use the images by the photographer or they are in the public domain available under the Creative Commons Zero license (CC0, “No Rights Reserved”). Images in the public domain can be used, modified, and shared freely without any copyright or database restrictions; attribution is not required. The PDF image list provides visitors a link to each image used in Preserve and acknowledges the contributions of the photographers.
PRESERVE COLLABORATIVE
Collectively named Preserve Collaborative, Cathy McCauley, Pamela Self and Shari Gullo are a dynamic team of three women who describe themselves using terms like creative, maker, visionary, activist, naturalist, writer and designer. Together they have a history of making their big ideas reality.
A love of nature is a commonality among them. Proponents of intelligent land use, local food production and landscaping with native plant species, they believe the health of the soil directly affects the health of the ecosystem and ultimately the health of our bodies.
Past collaborations include spearheading a peace initiative, the Ela Peace Project, culminating in installing Illinois' tallest peace pole, and establishing a community garden in honor of renowned birder Phoebe Snetsinger.
Cathy McCauley keeps her heart strong and her hands busy by writing poetry about her connection to the natural world. She is completing her certification as a nature and forest therapy guide. She's a mom breaking generational patterns and also serves as the president of the Ela Area Public Library Board of Trustees in IL.
Pamela Self, owner of Pamela Self Landscape Architecture, has led an innovative team designing beautiful spaces since 2003. Her love of the outdoors was passed to her from her Dad and her love of art was passed to her from her Mom.
Shari Gullo takes on big, daunting projects in an attempt to overcome a lifetime of instilled fears and to (hopefully, in some small way) change the world at the same time. She identifies with the words of Anais Nin, "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
Preserve Collaborative would like to thank the following people and organizations for their assistance: Tom, Reuben and the Ederer family, Vince Gullo, Jason McCauley, Marcia Marshall, Randy Newton, Steve Self, Barbara and Gary Voss, Ann Wayne, Sean West, Dave Asmann, Marcia and Dennis Schauff, Caleb Hadley, Bob Sayre, Sheri Williams, Mike Williams, Lianne Plath, Dan Plath. Bob Gurskis, Steve Self, the Fellows at the Aldo Leopold Foundation, the Wormfarm Institute, the Madison Arts Commission and the UW-Madison Arboretum.