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‘Animal Impressions’ New exhibition highlights animal impact on humans BY LAURA LATZKO Animals can help to shape our lives in different ways, including giving us an appreciation for other life forms, the animal kingdom and the natural world. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Art Institute’s new exhibition “Animal Impressions” explores through different art forms how animals can make an impression on humankind. The exhibition runs from August 21 to November 7. The 57 pieces sculptures, paintings, multimedia works and other pieces in the juried exhibit come from members of the Society of Animal Artists. The international organization, which was started in 1960, was designed for artists whose work is centered around wildlife topics. The artists chosen for the exhibit hail from the United States, Germany, Sweden, Canada and other parts of the world. These artists worked with a diversity of different materials, including bronze; cotton paper; Japanese handmade papers; black marble; granite; oil, acrylic and watercolor paint; ironwood; glass; colored pencils; copper; silver; brass and graphite. Marie McGhee, associate director for the art institute, says the artists interpreted the theme in different ways, with some highlighting animals’ facial expressions or body language and others giving a glimpse into animals’ behavior. “There is one in particular that is the face of a California Condor, and it is just magnificent, just the expression on that
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bird’s face and the angle of the head. … There’s another one of zebras in their world. It’s not so much about how we see them, or the expression they are conveying, it’s more about the expression of their daily life,” McGhee says. The show ties into the art institute’s larger mission of promoting conservation through art education. “Animals teach us about conservation all the time. That’s why we wanted to know how animals impress upon us an appreciation for the natural world and how does that add to our own humanity,” McGhee says. “I think the connection between animals, humanity and conservation is critical.” McGhee says the exhibition is relevant in today’s society because conservation has recently come more to the forefront. The exhibit not only highlights local conservation but offers a global perspective. “Even though our focus is the Sonoran Desert, it can never be too far from our mind that our environments are all interconnected,” McGhee says. An opening for the Ellen Woodbury’s “Feline Improvisation” in Chinese black marble on marble and granite. (Photo by Mel Schockner)
show, with the curator and some of the artists present, will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. September 17. Guided tours of the exhibition are also available at no cost. They can be set up in advance by contacting the art institute. Volunteers will often walk Calvin Nicholls’ “Brightening the Twilight 6/7” in cotton around, answering questions paper by Strathmore and Japanese handmade papers. about the exhibitions. McGhee (Photo courtesy of Calvin Nicholls) ecosystem that is home to different says questions on the artwork can mammal, fish, bird and micro-inverteoften lead to more in-depth dialogues. “It often sparks conversations about brate species. Along with a chance to view art instithe technique that a person used, and that can flow into the science of conser- tute exhibitions, admission grants visitors access to the museum’s gardens; trails; vation,” McGhee says. Classes and other exhibitions of- aviaries; aquarium; reptile, amphibian fered at the art institute are also and invertebrate hall; earth sciences centered around environmental center; mountain woodland and desert grassland animal habitats and other aniconservation. From August 7 to October mal exhibits. 24, the art institute will present another exhibition called What: “Animal Impressions” “Borderlands: Where the DesWhen: August 21 to November 7 ert Meets the Sea” featuring What: “Borderlands: Where the photographs by Mexican Desert Meets the Sea” photographers Pilar Salido When: August 7 to October 24 and Carlos Navarro.
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The two photographers/ naturalists captured the Cortez Sea and the surrounding Sonoran Desert, which meet in Baja, California; Arizona; and Sonora, Mexico. The photos showcase the inherent beauty of an
Where: Arizona Sonora Desert Museum Art Institute, 2021 N. Kinney Road Cost: $23.95 general admission to museum, $21.95 for seniors, $19.95 for military, $11.95 for children 3 to 12, and free for children under 3 and museum members Info: 883-3024, desertmuseum.org
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