Flowering Amazon: The Paintings of Margaret Mee includes watercolor drawings, field sketches, diaries and native Brazilian artifacts from Mee's 15 Amazonian expeditions from 1956 to 1988. The exhibition, which bridges the worlds of art, science and conservation through her luminous botanical art and acute scientific observations, will be on view in the Joutras Gallery of the Regenstein Center through April 8, 2007.
At the age of 47, Mee embarked on her first expedition, living for weeks at a time with the Tucano Indians. Her forays into the jungle were made in a small dugout canoe in the company of a single Indian guide. She braved sickness, stifling heat, storms and danger as she recorded native plants in their natural habitats. Mee's record of Amazonian plants is considered to be without peer. Her watercolors may be the only visual record of plants that have become instinct due to the destruction of the rainforest. Mee's drawings and sketches have inspired conservationists to continue the work she began to protect fragile ecosystems from destruction.
Visitors can continue their tropical experience with a stroll through the Garden's redesigned and enhanced South Greenhouse. A new banana grove stands above a river of colorful low-growing tropical plants. Delicious favorites not-to-be-missed include chocolate, coffee and coconut trees. Orchid aficionados will be delighted to see the orchid collection has doubled in size.
On Saturdays and Sundays through March 25, volunteer interpreters will be stationed throughout the exhibition and greenhouses to answer questions from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. On Super Science Sunday March 11, families can drop in from noon to 4 p.m. for free activities highlighting science and the exhibition. They can observe botanical artist Nancy Snyder drawing in the greenhouses from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. On March 11, the program highlights plant genetic basics, and ties in with the Gregor Mendel exhibition at The Field Museum. Author and Field museum staff member Cheryl Bardoe will read from her new book, "The Friar Who Grew Peas,"Â from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. -- www.chicagobotanic.org
Posted March 7th, 2007 by ruzik_tuzik
