Art in Service of the Land

This collaborative exhibition celebrates the intersection of art and environmental stewardship, highlighting the efforts of the Oak Group, the UCSB Cheadle Center for Biodiversity & Ecological Restoration, and Coal Oil Point Reserve to conserve the Devereux Slough. Art in Service of the Land invites viewers to explore how art documents, interprets, and amplifies the ongoing work of conservation, revealing the beauty and complexity of the North Campus Open Space (NCOS) and inspiring engagement with our local environment.

This exhibition was curated and cosponsored by the Oak Group and the Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration, in collaboration with UCSB Library staff.

The Oak Group is one of the first artist groups in the U.S. to combine creativity with conservation. Since 1986, Oak Group artists have exhibited artworks painted on location to raise awareness and funds for open spaces, generating over $3 million in sales to support the preservation of lands for wildlife, recreation, ranching, and farming. The group includes 25 active members and has presented more than 100 exhibitions benefiting over 20 conservation organizations.

The Cheadle Center manages over 340 acres of open space between Ellwood Mesa and Goleta Slough, supporting habitat conservation, upland and wetland restoration, and sustainable stormwater management. These lands form a mosaic of oak woodland, coastal sage scrub, grassland, and wetland ecosystems that sustain high regional biodiversity. The Center also provides critical academic opportunities for UCSB students, including internships, field courses, and independent projects supported by the Research and Monitoring Mentorship Program.