Art, Education Exhibition Highlights Lake Michigan Shoreline Beauty

Upcoming show at College of Lake County features work showcasing endangered piping plovers and their fragile lakefront habitat.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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An upcoming art and education exhibition at the Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art at the College of Lake County in Grayslake aims to raise awareness about the endangered piping plovers and the delicate Lake Plain ecosystem along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The exhibition, titled 'Through the Eyes of the Piping Plovers: The Flora, Fauna and Communities of the Lake Plain', will feature around 150 works of art by over 45 artists, including paintings, photography, sculpture, and ceramics that explore the landscapes and wildlife of the region.

Why it matters

The exhibition organizers hope the art can be a compelling way to engage people who may not be aware of the piping plovers and the importance of protecting their lakefront habitat. The return of a pair of nesting plovers to a private beach in Waukegan has inspired community involvement and renewed appreciation for the fragile ecosystem, which stretches 15 miles from Kenosha to Waukegan.

The details

The exhibition will include interactive educational displays highlighting the recovery story of the piping plovers, their habitat, and the work of volunteers, researchers, and community partners. Visitors will learn about the plovers' migration, conservation challenges, and how local stewardship plays a role in protecting threatened and endangered species. This is the gallery's first partnership with a community organization.

  • The exhibition opens on February 27, 2026 and runs through March 31, 2026.

The players

Carolyn Lueck

President of the Lake County Audubon Society and Sharing Our Shore-Waukegan.

Ann Rintz

Art gallery and permanent collection curator for CLC's four campuses.

Steve Jessmore

Award-winning photographer featured in a special exhibit within the show.

College of Lake County

The host institution for the Robert T. Wright Gallery of Art where the exhibition is taking place.

Lake County Audubon Society

One of the partnering organizations for the exhibition.

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What they’re saying

“Art can be a compelling way to engage people who might not be aware of the plovers and their habitat.”

— Carolyn Lueck, President of the Lake County Audubon Society and Sharing Our Shore-Waukegan

“I think people are looking for a break — something beautiful. A great story.”

— Ann Rintz, Art gallery and permanent collection curator for CLC's four campuses

What’s next

The exhibition is the gallery's first partnership with a community organization, and organizers hope it will inspire more people to get involved in protecting the piping plovers and their fragile lakefront habitat.

The takeaway

This exhibition showcases the beauty of the Lake Michigan shoreline and the importance of protecting the endangered piping plovers and the delicate Lake Plain ecosystem. By using art as a way to engage the community, the organizers hope to raise awareness and inspire more people to support conservation efforts in the region.