In the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, JCSM responded by exploring the Louise Hauss and David Brent Miller Audubon collection as a means of examining the environment of the Gulf Coast and its avian inhabitants. Reaching out to those on campus who could speak to Audubon as naturalist, scientist, and artist, Barry Fleming from the Department of Art and a master birder, and Geoffrey Hill from the Department of Biological Sciences came together to develop an exhibition. Even as the exhibition was a response to the horrific devastation of the oil spill, the show looked back to Audubon's time and to the birds and environment of the gulf coast before there ever was oil drilling. What emerged is the realization that the gulf of time between us and Audubon is really a very brief one, but one which has seen too much thoughtless destruction of the environment. The oil spill gave us pause to consider the value of our precious resources, the beauty of the land and seascapes of our gulf, and finally, the historical legacy of John James Audubon.
