Feature
July
14
Artist Exhibits Oil Spill Portfolio
by Michelle Gautreaux
Wildlife photographer Darlene Eschete shares her perspective of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in a new exhibit at Southdown Plantation.
Over a year after the spill coated Gulf wildlife with thick crude, Eschete reminds visitors of the devastation the wildlife endured through heartbreaking images she has captured of the struggling animals in their polluted habitats.
“Visitors from all over the world will be able to see what I saw,” Eschete said.
The exhibit features a variety of artwork, including photography, sculptures and paintings in watercolor, acrylic and oils that depict images Darlene captured from July 10 through Sept. 23, 2010.
In the past, Eschete focused on painting and photographing wildlife and floral subjects; however, the Deepwater Horizon explosion and subsequent oil disaster interrupted that direction.
Eschete volunteered and became active with several national and local wildlife groups to seek, find and report oiled wildlife while documenting the process with her camera. She reported her findings to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
The experiences left a lasting impression.
“It was very emotional,” Eschete said. “I saw upsetting stuff. I went to places where others couldn’t go.”
Eschete brought her camera to Grand Isle and other popular locations affected by the spill, but she also chartered a plane to Raccoon Point to get an up-close look at the devastation in that area.
During her trips to the affected areas, she collected debris like dolphin vertebrae, tar balls and oil samples—all viewable at the exhibit.
In addition to her photography, Eschete also turned to sculpture and painting to release the emotions she felt following her trips to the Gulf.
“Whatever medium I chose—oils, acrylics or watercolors—the images seemed to flow onto the canvas with ease,” Eschete said. “Although the paintings helped me express my feelings, they did not erase the images from my mind.”
Many of Eschete’s photographs were published in National Wildlife magazine and shown on CNN.
“As a wildlife photographer, I couldn’t stand back and watch it happen and not do anything,” Eschete said. “There’s a lot going on still.”
