State Historical Society of Missouri
605 Elm St.
Columbia
Artwork plays a significant role in fostering environmental stewardship and the Missouri Department of Conservation has a long history of partnering with artists to promote this mission. This new exhibition in the SHSMO Art Gallery features work by two artists who have made significant contributions to Missouri’s conservation movement: current MDC nature photographer Noppadol Paothong and former MDC artist Charles Schwarz.
About the Artists:
Charles Schwartz (1914-1991) was a distinguished artist, biologist, and naturalist who was active in the Missouri Department of Conservation for over 40 years. Born and raised in St. Louis, Schwartz received an undergraduate degree in zoology from the University of Missouri in 1938 and a master’s degree in 1940. He married fellow MU student Elizabeth “Libby” Reeder (Ph.D., 1938), and the two collaborated on many projects, including the award-winning illustrated book Wild Mammals of Missouri, first published in 1959 and still in print. As a trained zoologist, Schwartz spent hours observing and studying the habits of animals and birds. His images reflect an intimate familiarity with the creatures he depicted. The couple became well known in the early environmental movement and became good friends with naturalist Aldo Leopold and zoologist Marlin Perkins.
Noppadol Paothong grew up in Bangkok, Thailand, and in 1993 traveled to the U.S. to attend North Idaho College. Initially planning to major in graphic design, he switched to journalism after taking a wildlife photography course. He received a scholarship to attend Missouri Southern State University in Joplin in 1998, and after graduation worked for the Joplin Globe and Springfield News-Leader. In 2006, his passion for wildlife photography led him to join the Missouri Department of Conservation as a staff photographer, and he has since become an internationally recognized and award-winning wildlife photographer. Paothong is an associate fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, an elite group comprised of the world's top wildlife, nature, and culture photographers around the globe.