Defending the Inland Temperate Rainforest through Art
Wildsight Golden invites artists of all disciplines to take part in a collaborative, educational art display celebrating the Inland Temperate Rainforest (ITR) — one of the rarest ecosystems on Earth, and right here in our backyard.
This project aims to deepen public understanding of the local ITR ecosystem, highlighting not only old-growth trees, but the full web of flora, fauna, and fungi that make this rainforest thrive. Through art, we hope to spark curiosity, learning, and conversation about what makes this ecosystem unique — and what’s at stake.
This is an educational display, grounded in science and place. Each artwork will be accompanied by a short scientific statement connecting the piece to current research and local ecological knowledge. We encourage artists to think beyond “big trees.” The Inland Temperate Rainforest is a living system — layered, interconnected, and often unseen.
Artists are invited to explore any aspect of the ITR that resonates with them. Prompts for possible themes and focus points, as well as background reading material, are provided on our website. We welcome artists working in any medium or format, including painting, photography, sculpture, digital media, and spoken word. The deadline for expressions of interest is March 16, with selected artists announced on April 1. The collection will be exhibited at the Art Gallery of Golden from August 14 to September 12, 2026.
If you’re curious, experimental, passionate about ecology, or simply fascinated by the living systems around Golden — we’d love to see how you interpret the Inland Temperate Rainforest. Artists can find more information and submission guidelines on our website.
