For this exhibit, two giant murals were commissioned to represent the habitats and animals present during the last Ice Age in the region of New York State. The tundra mural, measuring 19” x 8', and the boreal forest mural, measuring an extensive 39” x 8", were both created by the artist Beth Zaiken. 

Before graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design, Beth painted large-scale murals in civic buildings in Rochester, Minnesota. In college, she sharpened her skills in traditional and digital media, and found another passion in reconstructing extinct animals and landscapes, and ancient civilizations and architecture. She particularly enjoys the challenge of depicting extinct or scarce creatures. Deeply concerned about conservation issues, Beth uses her gifts to draw attention to amazing creatures and emphasize the need for urgent conservation efforts. Beth works in traditional and digital media and specializes in large-scale landscape murals and reconstructions of prehistoric animals. 

Currently, Beth is a principal artist and muralist for Blue Rhino Studio, a well-known museum design and fabrication firm in Minneapolis. A native of the Minnesota prairie, Beth loves her quiet life with her husband, Mark, and their two dogs, Nessie and Booker. Here she can concentrate on her work, and the daily views of wide-open skies and sparkling lakes and rivers are an indispensable part of their lives. 

For more information about Beth Zaiken and her work, visit: www.bethzaiken.com