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Gazing Deeply: The Art and Science of Mammoth Cave

February 24, 2020 to May 15, 2022

Take a 360-degree virtual tour of the exhibit by clicking this link (opens in new window).

WKU Faculty: Download this one-page document for information on how you can use Gazing Deeply in your classes. Additional activities for use in class are linked below:

Object Lesssons (Four Steps to a Great Story)

What do scientists and artists do? How do they work together?

Why are both arts and sciences vital to a well-rounded education?

How can creative human endeavors inspire us to protect our home planet?

Gazing Deeply explores these questions, showcasing how WKU’s backyard—the unique landscape of Mammoth Cave—is being studied, interpreted, and inspiring action on environmental change. Coinciding with the UNESCO Conservation of Fragile Karst Resources: A Workshop on Sustainability and Community and Earth Day’s 50^th anniversary in 2020, this exhibition is a collaborative effort between arts and science faculty and students that highlights one of the most well-known and vital natural landscapes in the world.

Visitors to the exhibition will discover:

How Mammoth Cave has formed and is explored, including how explorers study and document the cave;
What international karst scientists saw when they looked at historic illustrations of Mammoth Cave;
Artistic works by art instructor Julie Schuck and her students about Mammoth Cave and its inhabitants, informed by their tours of the cave and scientific studies;
Mammoth Cave's sister parks and how YOU can help protect these vital regions; and
How WKU is fostering applied, interdisciplinary learning and inspiring the next generation of Science+Arts changemakers.

This exhibition is curated in partnership with Dr. Chris Groves (Geology), Julie Schuck (Art), and Dr. Rick Toomey (Mammoth Cave National Park) and features the commentary and work of numerous karst scientists and WKU art students.

Events

The Kentucky Museum and Crawford Hydrology Lab are thrilled to present events in connection with Gazing Deeply. Check back for new events as they are added.

June and July 2020 - Karst Field Studies courses. Learn more here.

August 17-21, 2020 - UNESCO Karst - Conservation of Fragile Karst Resources: A Workshop on Sustainability and Community, featuring a Poster Reception at the Kentucky Museum.

Gazing Deeply: Big Ideas

Visit our companion online exhibit to take a deeper look at the objects, stories, and involvement of WKU at Mammoth Cave National Park. This exhibit features expanded text by Dr. Chris Groves, Lee Anne Bledsoe, and Autumn Singer of Crawford Hydrology Laboratory and art instructor Julie Schuck of the WKU Art Department as well as object lessons by Dr. Guy Jordan (Art History) and Dr. Kate Hudepohl (Anthropology and Folk Studies).