ArtNature connects the love of art with the nature that inspires it. We believe information is the power tool that elevates our cause to inform, enlighten, and provoke action.
Indiana’s natural habitats are suffering but salvageable. The exquisite work of Hoosier artists mask the urgent reality that left alone, these waterway and lake habitats, along with the fish and wildlife associated with them – are at risk.
ArtNature explores the science of Indiana’s fragile ecosystem and the awakening that must occur to repair what is broken. Adequate funding for ecological restoration is the biggest challenge. We believe there is an even greater cost to do nothing.
Meet the team
President
Juli Metzger
Avon recruited Juli because of her communication skills. Indiana Waterways needed an editor and Juli brings 35 years of editing chops, having worked in nine newsrooms across the U.S. and spending just over 10 years teaching journalism and cross-platform storytelling at Ball State University.
Vice President
Dr. Jerry Sweeten
Jerry is a longtime biology professor from Manchester University. He tried to retire but the land kept calling his name. Today, he is owner and Senior Stream Ecologist for EcoSystems Connections Institute and spends a good deal of time taking out low-head dams and restoring the natural flow of fish life along Indiana waterways, lakes and streams. He is the lead scientist and essayist for the ArtNature projects.
Treasurer
Avon Waters
Avon is responsible for recruiting artists and scheduling gallery exhibitions. Avon, a gifted pastel artist, launched ArtNature on a hunch others cared about art and conservation, too. He was right! He is the lead artist on Indiana Waterways and the Glacial Lakes projects.
Secretary
John Metzger
Juli recruited John to help out. He’s the graphic designer at The JMetzger Group, a boutique marketing and strategic communications consulting company that he and Juli own. He is former Production Director for Bird Watchers Digest and knows a thing or two about gardening, too. Juli and John are publishers of the ArtNature books.