Uncommon Views, Photos by Pete Myers

nobody@vox.com(Liza Myers) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 23:35:45 -0300

Please join us at the opening Liza Myers Gallery 22 Center St. Brandon Vermont

The first law of intelligent tinkering is to save all the parts.
- Aldo Leopold

We're about to have a fabulous event at the gallery.

    The first-ever exhibition of photography by JP (Pete) Myers, renowned environmental scientist and highly published photographer. Pete will be at the opening from 5-7 on February 29th.
    Myers' photographs of the natural world have been published in such highly respected journals as Smithsonian Magazine, Audubon Magazine and Natural History. Birds, insects, flowers and dewdrops all shimmer with life. Through his camera lens we have an insightful, exquisite and intimate view of nature.

I think Aldo Leopold would see his work as a celebration of "all the parts."
    His bio is as stunning as his photos.
Here are just a few tidbits:
    Pete is founder, CEO and chief scientist of Environmental Health Sciences which publishes EnvironmentalHealthNews.org DailyClimate.org and OurStolenFuture.org. In 1996 he co-authored Our Stolen Future, a book that helped revolutionize the science of environmental health.
    Pete's photos will be available at the gallery on an on-going basis, but to meet the artist, join us on Feb 29!
    I have to admit I am inflicted with acute lens-envy when I see the amazing photos that Pete produces. Lens-envy and an overwhelming appreciation of the complexity and beauty of the biosphere.
    I also must add that Pete is one of my four amazing scientist brothers.
    In my sibling group there are four PhD's and two women. : )
    The women are artists... myself with a pigment and a brush or clay, my sister with magnificent gardens. All of my brothers take great photos, many of which can be seen at the University of Michigan's Animal Diversity website, which was initiated by my eldest brother Phil Myers, long ago when the web was young. There you can find photos by Phil, Pete and Roger Myers.

They also celebrate "all the parts."

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Inquiring minds sometimes ask...

nobody@vox.com(Liza Myers) — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 08:59:10 -0300

Inquiring minds sometimes ask: Why nests? Why eggs? Why twining twigs and grasses?
It began with birds... the chicken was definitely before the egg for me.

The chicken was before the egg

Birds have always been magical and fascinating friends. Once while I hid in the sheltering branches of a sizable yew during a childhood game of hide and seek, a flock of cedar waxwings surrounded the tree, feasting on ripe berries. Sleek olive feathers and waxy red tips on the wings... a slightly scary mask over beady eyes as they gobbled juicy red berries... all very memorable for a five year old.

Photo by Pete Myers

When I lived on a sage brush studded desert mesa near Taos, New Mexico I drew many, soaring ravens in pen and ink, and painted large still lifes with feathers and other treasures. At UNM my drawings often included entangled threads and grasses. So strange to think of now, that I have been nurturing this imagery for so long.

Then while in residency at the Vermont Studio Center I brought along an Audubon Field Guide of Nests, and simultaneously undertook a study of transparent acrylic, and the architecture of the nest of a Common Yellowthroat, an elusive, tiny, bright yellow bird. They are always thrilling to discover in the underbrush.

Refuge 12" x 60"

That was several years ago. I continue to be fascinated by the texture, intricacy and beauty of nests, and the creatures who create them. The eggs were later.
Time to head in to the studio. It's getting light out already.

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A Musing Artful Meanders

Uncommon Views, Photos by Pete Myers

Inquiring minds sometimes ask...