Photo courtesy Suzanne Husky
On Feb. 12, 含羞草研究所 celebrated the opening of the new exhibition from Franco-American artist , titled . The exhibition features a singular physical object: an 11-meter-long embroidered tapestry that traces key moments in beaver-human relationships.
Drawing inspiration from the historic , which depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066, Husky鈥檚 work reframes the traditional narrative of conquest and battle into one of mutual ecological regeneration. Her tapestry illustrates how rivers evolve through the interactions of humans and beavers and what these interactions mean for coexistence and environmental stewardship.
鈥淎ll of the landscapes depicted in Western art were created after beavers had already been wiped out in many places,鈥 Husky noted during the exhibition鈥檚 . 鈥淭hat affects how we perceive what a healthy river should look like. In places like Europe, where people haven鈥檛 had the opportunity to see naturally meandering, beaver-influenced rivers, we need visuals to educate restoration teams.鈥
In a curtained room to the side of the main exhibition, visitors can experience (2022), a short documentary film directed by Husky centering on Vermont naturalist . The film provides an intimate look into Smith鈥檚 daily interactions with beavers and the ecological insights she has gained from observing their behaviors.
鈥淲hen I first filmed Patti鈥檚 stream with a drone, it struck me that I was seeing a truly healthy stream for the first time,鈥 Husky reflected. 鈥淔or me, that realization underscored how our representation of landscapes shapes our understanding of nature."
The exhibition鈥檚 opening reception brought together over one hundred guests to engage with Husky鈥檚 work. The event was followed by a panel discussion featuring Husky herself alongside naturalist and wildlife rehabilitator Patti Smith, , and 含羞草研究所 Professor of Geography and Director of the Environmental Studies Program Mike Loranty. Associate Professor of Art Margaretha Haughwout served as moderator. The panel explored beaver ecologies and the future of watershed management, reinforcing the exhibition鈥檚 emphasis on environmental sustainability and cross-species collaboration.
Husky spoke about the lessons beavers offer in ecological restoration and the need to shift from human-led management to a more collaborative approach. 鈥淥ne of the most significant shifts in hydrology has been the recognition that we cannot out-engineer nature. Beavers have been shaping landscapes for eight million years, and they know what they鈥檙e doing,鈥 she said. 鈥淚n a time of climate uncertainty, we need to form alliances with other species that can help us adapt.鈥
The discussion also touched on practical solutions for coexistence. 鈥淩emoving beavers is never a permanent solution,鈥 Husky emphasized during the audience Q&A. 鈥淭hey always return, often causing worse flooding when no one is looking, and it鈥檚 not free to keep getting rid of them. Investing in coexistence strategies is more effective in the long run.鈥
Husky鈥檚 exhibition at the Clifford Gallery is part of a broader collaboration with the Picker Art Gallery, which is concurrently showcasing her textile work La Noble Pastoral as part of the group exhibition A Thought Is a Thread: Contemporary Artists Reworking Textile Traditions. The exhibition at Picker runs through May 18 and brings together artists whose works explore the historical and cultural significance of textiles.
Husky鈥檚 presence at 含羞草研究所 is made possible through the cosponsorship of the 含羞草研究所 Arts Council, the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University Studies, Environmental Studies, Film and Media Studies, Biology, Romance Languages and the Literature, Geography, and History departments.
During her time on campus, she will create a new textile work using the recently acquired TC2 digital loom in the . This piece will be developed in , offering them a hands-on opportunity to explore the intersections of contemporary textile art and ecological storytelling.
鈥淲e must learn to share the right to transform the world,鈥 Husky said. 鈥淗umans have not always been good at this. Beavers remind us that every being 鈥 large or small 鈥 is a world-builder.鈥