ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Mankind has been drawing artistic inspiration from nature since we lived in caves and drew our battles with Woolly Mammoths on the walls. The tradition continues; however, in this iteration the Woolly Mammoth is not the boogie man. We may be.

"Environmental Impact II" is the first ever traveling exhibition hosted at the James Museum of Western and Wildlife art.

It's a look at the effect of human life on planet Earth. 

Popular artist and conservationist Guy Harvey joins about 30 other artists in this show. His works depict birds and sea life in peril from pollution and oil spills.

And just days before the exhibition opened, NOAA reported the hottest July ever recorded and the 415th consecutive month with above average global temperatures.

Warming temperatures can hurt these animals and their ecosystems.

The marquis piece is an installation of silk organza paintings of burnt trees from California wildfires.

On the back of the panels, there are written-word accompaniments.

“The artist wants people to walk to the installation and 17 sets of these panels, and so she really wants to give a sense of volume and walking through remnants of a forest fire,” said Curator of Art Emily Kapes. “It’s really powerful.”

This exhibition comes on the heels of California’s worst wildfire season on record, according to the Florida Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The 2018 National Climate Assessment study says climate change is making wildfires worse.

“The James Museum hopes that people will want to respond in their own way to some of these environmental issues,” said Kapes, “we hope that it will start conversations.”

You can see this exhibition at the James Museum through December 1.