The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. The official launch took place at the Ninth Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests at the United Nations Headquarters, New York on January 24, 2011.

The Algonquin Art Centre exhibit will concentrate on the role of artists and their works in promoting this cause. The exhibit theme will focus on local bio-regions, including Algonquin Provincial Park and surrounding areas. Such topics as conservation efforts and threats to biodiversity will be addressed by the artists either in the work itself or in the artists accompanying comments.

In addition to the AAC’s collaboration with the UN, they have teamed up with The Friends of Algonquin Park who play a major role in the conservation, education and maintenance of our world-renowned park. The Friends of Algonquin Park will be a beneficiary of a percentage of sales.

Dodge will have a series of landscapes and wildlife paintings depicting life indigenous to Algonquin Park on display for purchase. Her desire will be to convey a message of conservation and restoration of forests so that the profusion of life they contain are not lost to the world forever.

Dodge’s art will be on display at the Algonquin Art Centre seasonally from the opening in June 1st until the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend October 16th, 2011.