About ESPP's Founders: Molly Schafer & Jenny Kendler

Molly & Jenny with banners of their work (two on the left) installed in Chicago's Grant Park

Jenny Kendler and Molly Schafer met during their graduate studies at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where they bonded over nature-geekery, including a studious interest in animals, wild places and natural pre-history. Since 2005, Kendler and Schafer have been collaborating on projects relating to art and the environment: in the process creating installation, video and drawings works, as well as co-managing a temporary gallery space in Chicago’s West Loop. Their collaborative and individual works have been shown internationally, including at Exit Art (NYC), The Yeosu Art Festival (Korea), Claremorris Gallery (Dublin), The Andy Warhol Museum (Pittsburgh), artpoint Miami, and Lollapalooza 2007. Both artists have upcoming solo shows this Fall: Schafer at Lump Gallery (Raleigh, NC) and Kendler at COOP (Chicago, IL).

Their newest venture to date is The Endangered Species Print Project. ESPP was born --- after a years of showing their art regarding the Natural World in the Gallery World --- from Kendler and Schafer’s collective desire to operate outside this white-wall system and use their artistic talents to directly support conservation efforts and biodiversity on Planet Earth. Kendler and Schafer aimed to craft a project which would use drawing (the thing they were best at and most enjoyed doing) to positively impact the natural world (the thing they cared most about and most enjoyed experiencing).

ESPP is a labor of love for Kendler and Schafer, who manage all aspects of the project and the creation of the original artwork, along with their day-jobs and individual artistic practices. Moving into late 2009 and 2010 Kendler and Schafer plan to expand the project to include guest artists and are actively seeking grants to support their continued efforts.

Jenny & Molly at last year's ReptileFest!