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Lois Peterson's exhibition Beneath the Fields features large-scale graphite drawings influenced by the tradition of botanical illustration. By applying the principles of abstraction and working on a larger scale, Peterson offers a contemporary interpretation of a traditional genre. She creates detailed drawings of dormant native prairie plants, root systems, degraded water environments, and fallen segments of trees to make visible the vital role they hold in maintaining a critical balance in our natural environment. While working on this series, the artist felt a sense of grief over the environmental conditions leading to the steady disappearance of these ecological resources. She reflects, "This series of drawings consistently offers me opportunities to engage with members of diverse communities, environmentalists, land restoration experts, and others looking for meaningful ways to make a positive environmental contribution within their own community."
