Don Luce presents a series of paintings that capture the character of the individual test plots that make up Cedar Creek’s Big Biodiversity (Big Bio) experiment. Begun in the 1990s, Big Bio depends upon a grid of test plots that are monitored to determine the relationship between species diversity and productivity. The project has demonstrated that biodiversity is important for the productivity and stability of living systems.

The paintings were made in a process that mimicked the growth of the plots, starting from a sand colored base, with details of the plants layered on top. The paintings were conceived as portraits offering an intimate perspective into the character, diversity, and abundance of the experiment’s test plots while also giving viewers a window into the significance of the Big Bio experiment, one of the first studies to quantitatively demonstrate the importance of protecting our Earth’s amazing biological diversity.

This is a project from Cedar Creek Reflections, Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve’s artist in residence program.