Cynthia MacCollum : Portfolio : It was Evening all Afternoon : It Was Evening All Afternoon @ MapSpace

Portfolio > It was Evening all Afternoon > It Was Evening All Afternoon @ MapSpace

It Was Evening All Afternoon documents the six hundred and twenty-five species listed as Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern in the state of CT. Researching forgotten and unknown species is MacCollum’s way to honor the at-risk diversity and unseen beauty, while making visible the effects of habitat loss and climate change at a granular level. She researches each species, paints a symbolic representation, and creates a system for visualizing the data.
This exhibit at MAPSpace is both call to action and elegy. The installation represents the different classifications of endangered, threatened and special concern species for the state of Connecticut. These include Plants, Insects, Invertebrates, Amphibians, Reptiles, Birds, Fish and Mammals. Each species is labeled with both common and Latin names; their conservation status is visible through a system designed by the artist for each species. An Encyclopedia of Extirpation highlights the one hundred and eight species considered locally extinct.
A monumental endangerment cloak is constructed from one-inch painted strips of mulberry paper, one strip for each species. Species names and conservation status are read aloud on a two-hour looped voice recording. Plant species are represented by a Kozo paper scroll (360x11”); each species appears as a one-inch strip of watercolor. Insects are represented by one hundred and seventy-two individual painted cards, mounted on glassine envelopes and displayed on the wall. Specimen jars containing paintings suspended in fluid display the Reptiles, Amphibians and Invertebrates.

View the entire list of species here: https://portal.ct.gov/deep/endangered-species/endangered-species-listings/endangered-threatened-and-special-concern-species-by-taxonomic-group

It Was Evening All Afternoon @ MapSpace

It was Evening all Afternoon, installation view
2024

Endangered Species of Connecticut: Invertebrates
2024

Cynthia MacCollum It Was Evening All Afternoon @ MapSpace Acrylic ink on yup paper suspended in liquid-filled specimen jars

Endangered Species of Connecticut: Reptiles
2024
Acrylic ink on yup paper suspended in liquid-filled specimen jars
Fourteen 1-gallon jars

Cynthia MacCollum It Was Evening All Afternoon @ MapSpace Acrylic Ink on Yupo paper suspended in liquid-filled Specimen Jar

Endangered Species of Connecticut: Other Invertebrates, installation view
2023
Acrylic Ink on Yupo paper suspended in liquid-filled Specimen Jar
Twenty Jars, 4 x 2" each; 16.5 x 14" overall

The preservation of Other Invertebrates is often wet – specimens are preserved in a solution of 70% ethyl alcohol. This inspired me to present these paintings in specimen jars. I used acrylic inks on 3” x 1.5" translucent Yupo paper, which can withstand submersion in water. The paintings have been in water for two years.

The position of the jar is used to indicate status.
Facing fully forward: Special Concern Status.
Turned to the right: Endangered Status.
Turned around: Extirpated (locally extinct) species.