Post by Sharon Faulkner on Sept 15, 2006 14:50:39 GMT -5
'Caves' exhibit digs into Ocala
Smithsonian traveling exhibit makes Florida debut at CFCC
BY LASHONDA STINSON
STAR-BANNER
The dark and mysterious world of caves comes to light in "Caves: A Fragile Wilderness," the new exhibition at the Webber Center Gallery opening Thursday.
The traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History showcases the photography of 23 cave explorers and photographers with the National Speleological Society, the world's largest caving organization. The 39 color photographs provide an inside look into underground, underwater and ice caves all over the world.
The exhibit is presented in four sections: "Entrances," "Passages," "Formations" and "Life." These sections reveal different types of caves and the unique animals and plants that dwell in them. Joleen Gonzalez, exhibit coordinator at the gallery, said the exhibition not only shows the beauty of caves, but also provides an awareness and education about these endangered environments.
The Smithsonian partnered with NSS to develop the exhibition. It opened Nov. 9, 2002, and has been traveling ever since.
"Caves" was slated for a five-year national tour, yet it is now booked into 2008, according to the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service's Web site. Devra Wexler, projector director for the exhibit at SITES, said the Webber Center is the first venue in Florida to host the exhibition.
Wexler called "Caves" a beautiful and fascinating exhibit.
"We extended it for another year because it has been so popular, and there have been so many requests for the show. There's something about that dark space that people really get attracted to," she said. "A lot of what you see in these pictures are things you would never see outside a cave."
The Gainesville-based Florida Speleological Society is sponsoring the exhibit. In addition to the Smithsonian exhibition, an ancillary exhibit featuring photographs of Florida caves will be displayed.
Sean Roberts, a FSS member who lives in Citra, took the photos over the past five years. The majority of them are from caves in Marion County and a few in the Panhandle. Roberts said there are more than 1,000 known caves in the state and Marion County has at least 100. Despite the public's perception that many of the caves in Florida are wet, he said many of them are dry.
"When I heard (the exhibition) was coming, I made the suggestions to have pictures of local caves," said Roberts, adding that none of the county's caves are open to the public. "I wanted to give people in the county an idea of what exactly was in their own backyard."
During the exhibit, the FSS will offer information about caves and caving organizations in the gallery.
Article
Caves: A Fragile Wilderness makes Florida debut
Smithsonian traveling exhibit makes Florida debut at CFCC
BY LASHONDA STINSON
STAR-BANNER
The dark and mysterious world of caves comes to light in "Caves: A Fragile Wilderness," the new exhibition at the Webber Center Gallery opening Thursday.
The traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History showcases the photography of 23 cave explorers and photographers with the National Speleological Society, the world's largest caving organization. The 39 color photographs provide an inside look into underground, underwater and ice caves all over the world.
The exhibit is presented in four sections: "Entrances," "Passages," "Formations" and "Life." These sections reveal different types of caves and the unique animals and plants that dwell in them. Joleen Gonzalez, exhibit coordinator at the gallery, said the exhibition not only shows the beauty of caves, but also provides an awareness and education about these endangered environments.
The Smithsonian partnered with NSS to develop the exhibition. It opened Nov. 9, 2002, and has been traveling ever since.
"Caves" was slated for a five-year national tour, yet it is now booked into 2008, according to the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service's Web site. Devra Wexler, projector director for the exhibit at SITES, said the Webber Center is the first venue in Florida to host the exhibition.
Wexler called "Caves" a beautiful and fascinating exhibit.
"We extended it for another year because it has been so popular, and there have been so many requests for the show. There's something about that dark space that people really get attracted to," she said. "A lot of what you see in these pictures are things you would never see outside a cave."
The Gainesville-based Florida Speleological Society is sponsoring the exhibit. In addition to the Smithsonian exhibition, an ancillary exhibit featuring photographs of Florida caves will be displayed.
Sean Roberts, a FSS member who lives in Citra, took the photos over the past five years. The majority of them are from caves in Marion County and a few in the Panhandle. Roberts said there are more than 1,000 known caves in the state and Marion County has at least 100. Despite the public's perception that many of the caves in Florida are wet, he said many of them are dry.
"When I heard (the exhibition) was coming, I made the suggestions to have pictures of local caves," said Roberts, adding that none of the county's caves are open to the public. "I wanted to give people in the county an idea of what exactly was in their own backyard."
During the exhibit, the FSS will offer information about caves and caving organizations in the gallery.
Article
Caves: A Fragile Wilderness makes Florida debut