Renée Barry

Is a critical researcher and artist, inspired by deep questions and love for the planet. She is grateful to the librarian of her childhood who suggested books on Jane Goodall and Rachel Carson for igniting a lifelong interest in environmental issues.

Renée worked towards her BA in Environmental humanities at Sterling College between 2013 and 2015. She later received an MS in Environmental studies from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) in 2021. Her master’s thesis examined themes of privilege and power often in environmental communication.

As the 2021-2023 Erie Canal Research Fellow at the Erie Canal Museum, Renée traveled across New York to analyze environmental communication in historical signage alongside the almost 200 year old waterway. Her findings were published in Local Environment: the International Journal for Justice and Sustainability and featured in conferences, webinars, documentaries, and museums. She continues to research the Erie Canal independently and make art about it.

Block-printing, which Renée learned at Sterling College, continues to be a favorite pastime and medium. She was honored to print an interpretation of the Sterling icon in 2020 and is now deeply thrilled to keep working together as a Collaborating Artist at EcoGather, allowing her to carve more time out of each week for creativity.