Precious Frog

"By conserving this species, we are ensuring that the rich wetland habitat the Precious Frog depends on still exists and contributes to global diversity." (3)

The Oregon Spotted Frog, or Rana pretiosa (Precious Frog) is Canada's most endangered amphibian and is federally listed as endangered. According to their website, the Oregon Spotted Frog Recovery Team (OSFRT) "coordinates efforts to assess, conserve, manage, and recover the Precious Frog in Canada." (3)

"Amphibians serve an important role in ecosystems and are particularly sensitive to changes in the environment that ultimately affect us all." (1)

Part of their recent efforts to raise awareness included an art exhibition at Science World in Vancouver. From September to December of 207, "The Precious Frogs Art Exhibition," the OSFRT, inspired by the Disappearing Frogs Project, sought to "integrate art and conservation by showcasing a variety of visual and media art pieces combined with scientific and educational information on the challenges faced by amphibians in our province." (1)

"[W]e hope to inspire artists to be a bridge between scientists and the broader public, and to promote awareness and action." (1)

In addition to raising awareness, this was a fundraising event, in which the OSFRT ran an online Sealed Bid Auction to support amphibian conservation through the Precious Frogs project and the Amphibian Survival Alliance, which is a partner organization. (4)

"Paint, draw, print, sculpt, design, and photograph the province's frogs, toads, and salamanders, and consider how art can combat threats to amphibian survival, including habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, and disease" (1)

Throughout the exhibition's run, the OSFRT also provided film screenings, educational events, and art workshops. (1) On 2 December 2017, the exhibition also included a performance by Vancouver storyteller Naomi Steinberg, who "shared[d] stories of the Precious Frog." (5)

As indicated on their website, "Naomi is deeply committed to exploring the application of storytelling for social change particularly in the context of environmental education." (5)

This is a unique and noteworthy aspect of the exhibition in two ways. First, it shows another way in which frogs, art, and education were brought together through this exhibition. Second, with oral history and storytelling as a key component of many Indigenous cultures, this illustrates another through-line from the previous discussion of serigraph prints and the way that those artworks relate to stories by the artists.

"To us, amphibians are intriguing, beautiful, complex, inspiring, unusual, and more. What do you see?"(1)

Next: Disappearing Frogs Project

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