Art, Nature, and Giving Back: Celebrating Jim Nardi as the Covered Bridge Art Gallery's Artist of the Month

Credit: Covered Bridge Art Gallery

Conservation takes many forms.

Sometimes it looks like restoring habitat, building trails, or monitoring wildlife. Other times, it begins with something… smaller: helping people notice and appreciate the tiny wonders of the natural world around them.

For Ouabache Land Conservancy board member Jim Nardi, that work often happens through art. We are delighted to congratulate Jim on being selected as the Covered Bridge Art Gallery's Artist of the Month for June. In conjunction with this recognition, visitors now have the opportunity to purchase original artwork featured in two of Jim's books, making this an especially exciting month to experience his work.

Sharing a Love of Nature Through Art

Many people know Jim as a dedicated OLC board member, entomologist, conservationist, and educator. Through his detailed drawings and illustrations, he brings the beauty and complexity of the natural world to life, inviting others to take a closer look at the plants, insects, and wildlife that share our landscapes.

His work is available at OLC’s booth at Covered Bridge Art Gallery, where visitors can purchase prints, note cards, and signed copies of his self-illustrated children's book In Mouse’s Backyard.

New this month, 21 original pen-and-colored-pencil illustrations from Discoveries in the Garden and In Mouse's Backyard are available for purchase at the gallery. These pieces offer a rare opportunity to view and own the original artwork behind two of Jim's beloved books, showcasing the detail, creativity, and appreciation for nature that characterize his work.

As Artist of the Month, Jim's art is being featured in a window display that highlights both his artistic talent and his long-standing commitment to conservation.

Supporting Conservation Through Creativity

What makes this recognition especially meaningful to OLC is Jim's generosity. Proceeds from sales are shared between Ouabache Land Conservancy and the Covered Bridge Art Gallery, helping support both conservation and the arts in our community.

It's a wonderful example of how individual talents and key collaborations can strengthen local organizations and create lasting impact. Through his artwork, Jim not only inspires appreciation for nature but helps support the work of protecting it.

A Community Connected by Nature

There are so many valuable ways people contribute to conservation. Some volunteer at events. Some help steward preserves. Some share their expertise. Others support the cause through creativity and education.

Jim's contributions embody all of those qualities, and we are grateful for the many ways he continues to support conservation in west-central Indiana.

We encourage you to stop by the Covered Bridge Art Gallery and explore Jim's work, along with the work of the other talented local artists featured throughout the gallery.

If you're in the Rockville area, we encourage you to stop by the Covered Bridge Art Gallery and explore Jim's work, including his original illustrations, prints, note cards, and books. Purchases support both Ouabache Land Conservancy and the Covered Bridge Art Gallery, helping strengthen conservation and the arts in our community.

Congratulations, Jim, on this well-deserved recognition as Artist of the Month!