Associate Professor of Visual and Performing Arts June Lee’s photographic work was selected for inclusion in Laudato Si’: Caring for Our Common Home. This juried art exhibition will be on view at the Frances M. Maguire Art Museum at Saint Joseph’s University until Aug. 10. 

Inspired by the poem by Saint Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis’s call to environmental action, the exhibition explores humanity’s sacred connection to the Earth through themes of care, responsibility, and interconnection.

“My work documents the scenes that show the human impact on the environment,” Lee explained. “This particular photograph that was selected shows a cell phone tower with vine plants growing on top of it, as if the cell phone tower were another tree in the background. I’m interested in the visual and semantic tension in this scene.”

The exhibition features 24 artists working across painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media. Their works highlight the beauty of the planet and the urgency of its preservation, along with the disproportionate impact of climate change and ecological degradation on marginalized communities around the world. Featuring the voices and perspectives of artists from diverse cultural and geographic backgrounds, Laudato Si’ encourages visitors to reflect, ask difficult questions, and envision new possibilities for healing the planet.

“It’s an interesting exhibition because viewers will be able to see various art media, from painting to photography, centered around a specific theme,” Lee said. “Each artist brings a unique interpretation, offering various perspectives in the exhibition.”