Student Work Exhibited at Matthaei Botanical Gardens

During the winter 2016 semester, University of Michigan students in Cathy VanVoorhis’ Drawing II classes worked on a real-world project, creating posters for the Huron River Watershed Council (HRWC).

The posters communicate information that is important to HRWC: advertising summer events, showing native species that rely upon the health of the river, and demonstrating actions that people can take to help protect water quality.

Students researched and learned about water quality issues, HRWC’s mission, the watershed and wildlife of the Huron River. The classes visited Matthaei Botanical Gardens to walk along the outdoor trail and Fleming Creek — part of the Huron River Watershed. 

Students also drew native Michigan wildlife from exhibitions at the University of Michigan Natural History Museum. To complete the posters the classes viewed many examples of great posters from history, contemporary art posters, and current posters of the National Parks and National Wildlife Refuges.

Finally, students scanned their drawings into Illustrator or Photoshop to complete the poster design and organize the text.

The posters will be on display at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens from May-July 2017.

Matthaei Botanical Gardens
1800 N. Dixboro Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48105