The University of Kansas Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center is one of the leading university natural history museums in the nation. The museum was founded in 1864 by the same act of Kansas legislature that established the University of Kansas. Its collections of approximately seven million specimens are used by systematics researchers worldwide including its own staff of 20 and about 60 graduate students a year.

Throughout the history of the museum as they are today, the specimens serve as tools for teaching and research. Still displayed in Dyche Hall is the naturalistic panorama of 112 North American mammals, created in 1893 by the skilled taxidermist, L.L. Dyche.

In 1995, the university’s four systematics museums: the Museum of Natural History, McGregor Herbarium, Snow Entomological Museum, and Museum of Invertebrate Paleontology merged into a single administrative unit. The herbarium and entomology and invertebrate paleontology museums are now divisions of Botany, Entomology, and Invertebrate Paleontology in the Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center.

Our primary objectives in this year’s annual exhibit is to assemble a body of work that not only presents the highest level of ability but also represents the variety of subject matter and rendering techniques that characterizes works in our field of illustration for science. We wish to show a cross section of style, media and subject matter in black and white as well as color. The traditional nuts and bolts illustrations should be included with the best colorful ones with a priority given to accurate representation of subject or concept.

In the exhibit catalogue we will feature a discussion acknowledging the surge in the use of computer technology for rendering and delivery of final artwork, as well as a restatement of our continued commitment to traditional illustration methods.

While we find new and old ways to develop and prosper as professional artists, we recognize the value of displaying our many and varied images. In this exhibit, and as a cooperative group of members, we offer our talents and abilities for everyone to see. We wish to show the public the finest art our members produce. We share our work with each other to inspire all for, if not perfection then continued pursuit of improvement.

The Annual Members’ Exhibition and Reception is Monday evening, August 5th from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Natural History Museum and Diversity Research Center at University of Kansas, hosted by Allen Press. The GNSI Annual Exhibit includes 30 pieces. All art will be returned to the appropriate members in October.