Where: National Museum of Natural HistoryWhen: until December 12, 2010
I was a bit concerned that this exhibit would be depressing. It's not just polar bears or ice caps that are disappearing; plants are vanishing as well. Not the sort of thing to pick up one's spirits at lunchtime. Rather than skip the exhibit, however, I remembered that the point of this exercise is to see everything, regardless of whether or not I think I'm going to like it, so off I went.
As has happened before, I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, plants are endangered, but scientists are working to save them, and the museum has developed a way to pinpoint the plants most in need of attention quickly and accurately, thus leading to more plants saved.
The exhibit consists of botanical drawings of endangered plants - really lovely and very detailed. The artists work from specimens that are in the museum's collection and from the field, providing a visual description of the plants to further the work of scientists in saving them.
What was especially interesting is that on Mondays (when I went), one of the illustrators is actually in the exhibit room, working on a new drawing. I've never been to an exhibit where the artist was "in residence." How cool is that, to see the person who is responsible for such beautiful and important work, sitting in the back of the hall, creating more art?
Verdict: well worth a lunch time visit - try to go on Monday, when you can see one of the illustrators at work.
No comments:
Post a Comment