Walt Disney Dreamers Point sculpture now in mini-sized edition
Walt Disney Dreamers Point sculpture now in mini-sized edition
High Desert Museum to open new traveling exhibition ‘Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan’
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Imagine taking an intimate look into the lesser-known lives of wild wolves through the lens of a decorated National Geographic photographer. Set to debut at the High Desert Museum on Saturday, October 21, the traveling exhibition Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan offers Museum visitors that remarkable opportunity.
The stunning exhibition, created by the National Geographic Society and the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming, will feature Donovan’s images and videos of wolves in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and on Ellesmere Island in the high Canadian Artic. Since 2014, the National Geographic Explorer and photographer has examined the relationship between wild wolves and humans to better understand the animals, our shared history and what drives the persistent human-wolf conflict.
“This exhibition is timely as the wolf population increases in the High Desert ecosystem,” says High Desert Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “After a decades-long absence, wolves are once again our neighbors. The work by Ronan Donovan gives us insight into how we might all coexist together.”
Wolves is the kickoff to a series of exhibitions and programs over the next year at the Museum that will explore the Endangered Species Act, which was signed into law 50 years ago.
Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan will introduce visitors to the daily lives of wolves in the Arctic with unparalleled intimacy — how they hunt, play, travel and rest in one of the harshest environments on Earth. By contrast, the wolves of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem are fearful of humans, making it more difficult to document their daily lives. One of the distinctions made clear in the exhibit’s images is Donovan’s ability to get closer to wolf pups in the Arctic, which allowed the photographer to document behaviors he had never seen in Yellowstone. Donovan attributes these differences to the fact that Arctic wolves rarely experience negative encounters with humans or view them as a threat.
“Wolves are such a fascinating animal to me because of how complex their relationship is with humans,” Donovan says in a statement from National Geographic. “Wolves were the first animals humans domesticated some 30,000 years ago and they have lived alongside us ever since as guardians, workers and companions. Yet as humans moved to more sedentary lives, raising what amounts to easy prey in the form of livestock, wolves have found themselves in conflict with humans.”
Donovan, a field biologist turned conservation photographer and filmmaker, hopes that his photos will provide people with a better understanding of these often-misunderstood animals.
“The way that a culture views wolves can reveal a lot about how a society interacts with their environment—is there a belief of power over animals, or is there a collective shared landscape?” Donovan says. “As a visual storyteller, my goal is to portray my subjects in their most authentic way by showing the challenges they face as well as the tender moments between family members in order to evoke a shared emotion that the viewer can connect with.”
Through these emotional shared connections, Donovan hopes exhibition visitors will see wolves as they are: powerful, intelligent, social mammals that have evolved to live in family structures similar to humans.
“Our goal in exhibiting Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan at the High Desert Museum is to familiarize visitors with the past, present and future of gray wolves in the region,” says Museum Donald M. Kerr Curator of Natural History Hayley Brazier, Ph.D. “The recent expansion of wolf packs into their historic ranges can be a divisive issue, but it’s a timely topic that the Museum is equipped to facilitate a conversation about. We hope our visitors leave with a more nuanced understanding of wolves and their growing presence in the High Desert.”
In addition to the exhibition, the Museum will host three programs to further explore the topic of wolves. The first event, “An Evening with Ronan Donovan,” will be a talk by Donovan on Thursday, October 26 at the Museum. During this discussion, participants will spend the evening hearing the remarkable stories behind Donovan’s images and research. As a result, attendees can expect to participate in invigorating discussions surrounding this incredible species and their centuries-old relationship to humans. It begins at 7:00 pm and tickets are available at highdesertmuseum.org/ronan-donovan.
The next event, happening at OSU-Cascades on Friday, October 27, will focus on the lives of wolves in Oregon. This thought-provoking discussion titled “Face to Face with Oregon’s’ Wolves: Expert Perspectives” will be moderated by Donovan and feature a panel of local experts: Cameron Krebs (rancher), Emily Weidner (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist), Aaron Bott (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife wolf biologist) and Austin Smith Jr. (Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs natural resources manager). As the evening unfolds, the panelists will unravel the complex relationships between wolves and humans in Oregon, encouraging further discussion surrounding the species’ future as a part of the High Desert ecosystem. It starts at 7:00 pm and tickets are available at highdesertmuseum.org/wolves-panel.
The final event, happening on Saturday, October 28 at the Museum, is one the whole family can enjoy. Together with Ronan Donovan, kids will learn about wolf pack dynamics and how to howl like a wolf. This interactive event, titled “Howling Around,” will act as the fun and family-friendly conclusion to the High Desert Museum’s weekend of wolves. It will take place from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm and is free with Museum admission.
The visuals presented throughout Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan were captured from Donovan’s National Geographic Society-funded work and featured in National Geographic magazine’s 2016 issue on Yellowstone and in the September 2019 issue, as well as the National Geographic WILD series Kingdom of the White Wolf in 2019, which is available on Disney+.
Wolves: Photography by Ronan Donovan is open through February 11, 2024. It’s made possible by the Visit Central Oregon Future Fund with support from the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and Tonkin Corp. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/wolves.
ABOUT RONAN DONOVAN
A field biologist turned conservation photographer and filmmaker, Ronan Donovan has explored the human relationship to nature and wildlife on all seven continents. Donovan’s passion for conserving wild animals and wild places was ignited as a child growing up in Vermont and later during his years as a wildlife field biologist researching spotted owls and chimpanzees. He transitioned to visual storytelling as a way to amplify the wildlife researchers and conservationists that Donovan collaborated with. In addition to his National Geographic work on wolves, Donovan has documented human-chimpanzee conflicts in Uganda, and the legacy work of primatologist Dian Fossey
focused on mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda. Donovan strives to reconnect viewers to the natural world through the lives of our fellow social mammals to highlight our shared past and interwoven future.
ABOUT THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM
The High Desert Museum opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert region. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
FOUND- Thieves nab downtown Artwalk sculpture
Update: The sculpture has reported as returned.
Thieves nab downtown Artwalk sculpture
A popular sculpture from the Watertown Art Walk was stolen last weekend.
50 Years of Meryl Meisler’s Iconic New York Nightlife Photos
Jive Guy on Williamsburg Subway, March 1978
Photographer Meryl Meisler‘s journey in street photography began in the early 1970s, when she started documenting suburban life on Long Island. That quickly transitioned into following Manhattan’s electric nightlife and daily life in Bushwick well before its gentrification. Her vast archive of photos, which was only revealed in 2010 after she finished a 31-year career in education, is now on display together with her more recent images in an incredible five-decade retrospective.
Meryl Meisler | Simply Scintillating: A Retrospective is the photographer’s second solo show with CLAMP. Located in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood, CLAMP is the perfect home to celebrate Meisler’s look at the grit and glamour of New York City. By mixing her vintage street photography with new work, it’s clear that Meisler’s desire to represent her LGBTQ and Jewish identities, NYC street life, and nightlife adventures has never wavered.
Self-Portrait, My Childhood Mirror, Woodstock, August 2023
From the Village People stepping out of Manhattan’s fabled Grand Ballroom in 1978 to current nightlife icon Amanda Lepore celebrating a recent birthday, the photos show Meisler’s ability to stay on the pulse of life after dark in the city. But at the same time, her quiet portraits of subway riders and ladies at the salon also show a keen desire to capture the routines of daily life.
“Everyone you meet, even if for a moment, is important,” Meisler shared with My Modern Met in our 2017 interview. “Treat them as such. We are all witness to and part of history. This is your time, this is your place.”
Her work is a testament to this philosophy and, thanks to this ethos, we’re able to witness her exciting time capsule of life in New York, past and present.
Meryl Meisler | Simply Scintillating: A Retrospective is on view at CLAMP in New York City until November 4, 2023.
Fifty years of Meryl Meisler’s street photography is on show at CLAMP in New York City.
Mom Getting her hair Teased at Besame Beauty Salon North Massapequa, NY, June 1976
Love in Bloom G-d Bless America Henry Street Settlement Good Companions Senior Center 1978
After Meisler made her way from Long Island to Manhattan in 1975, she began documenting the city’s vibrant nightlife.
Self-Portrait, Playmate Hostess, NY, NY, December 1978
The Village People Stepping Out of the Grand Ballroom New York, NY, June 1978
Coli, Playmate Hostess, NY, NY, December 1978
It’s work that she continues today, focusing on life after dark as well as scenes of daily life.
Amanda Lepore on her Birthday, Bartschland, Working Girls Holiday Special, Club Room at Soho Grand, December 2022
Miss Malice, birthday femme, Switch n’ Play, Littlefield, Brooklyn, NY, January 2023
Ripped Stocking and Garter Dance Trio at GG’s Barnum Room, NY, NY, December 1978
Guys at Christopher Street Pier, NY, NY April 1978
JJ Holding Head as Hair Flies While Dancing with JudiJupiter, Studio 54, NY, NY, July 1977
Feminine Floored Hurrah (Potassa de la Fayette), NY, NY, Hurrah, March 1978 #2
Meryl Meisler: Website | Facebook | Instagram
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Meryl Meisler.
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Ovenecká 33: A Prague Apartment Where Art Meets Architecture
Ovenecká 33 is a unique apartment in Prague, Czech Republic, where the design is approached as an art installation, like an immersive experience designed by creative Tereza Porybná and Objektor architekti. Porybná has always been fascinated by the art of connection, whether it’s connecting people or exploring the boundaries between different realms, all while pushing the limits. Her vision for Ovenecká 33 is a space that transcends the ordinary, a place where public and private spaces intertwine, and a home that is ever-evolving, just like life itself.
Walking through the doors of Ovenecká 33 is like stepping into a world full of creativity. Porybná’s collaboration with Objektor architekti, led by Jakub Červenka, Václav Šuba, and Vojtěch Šaroun, brought her vision to life. Initially inspired by the likes of Luis Barragán, Valentina Schlegel, and Bijoy Jain, the project soon took on a life of its own, becoming a space with unique design elements.
Some of the more captivating features of the apartment are its hidden corners and geometric details. The unique interior reveals itself in layers – there’s a home throne, a kitchen that feels like a cave, and a secret doorway in the library. Various shaped niches are carved into the walls, while geometric shapes of stone are embedded into the floors like a giant mosaic.
The horizontal nature of the space offered an unobstructed world for the designers’ imaginations. They conceived the new design as “living scenography of changing and permanent backdrops.” A central core helps create various pathways and unexpected viewpoints, while the sun’s movement continuously changes the patterns of light on the stucco walls.
The main living space is dominated by a massive concrete island that serves multiple purposes.
Ovenecká 33 isn’t just an apartment – it’s also designed as an art gallery. Porybná’s dream is to share the space with creators and invite them for artist residencies, ensuring that the apartment remains in a state of perpetual transformation.
While the apartment is predominately filled with shades of gray, additional colors are brought in, along with warm woods, to make the space more cozy and livable.
A small, minimalist bathroom explodes with colorful light reflections through a stained glass window.
The light-filled entryway leads to a hallway with a built-in throne clad in woven textiles, which doubles as a piece of art.
Photography by BoysPlayNice.
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Exploring the Relationship Between Food and Seduction
I recently finished reading Marije Vogelzang’s Lick It. For those unfamiliar with her work, she’s the fairy godmother of food and eating design. In her latest book, she encourages the reader to indulge in curated culinary exercises (her art form) to explore the notion of food beyond sustenance into an expression of culture and desire. She shows you how satisfying a seductive relationship with your food can be.
Funny enough exploring the relationship between food and seduction is the exact theme of Design Museum Holon’s most recent show FOOD. Running until November 11, 2023, this captivating showcase delves deep into the intricate and seductive relationship between humans and food, all while emphasizing the pivotal role that design plays in shaping this connection.
Photo: Elad Sarig
The museum has dedicated its entire space to three distinct exhibitions that provide fascinating insights into the subject.
Nitsan Mayost, Letters to Ofer, 2022 Photo: Eitan Mottahedeh
Curators Liora Rosin and Dana Benshalom aptly observe, “Our culinary choices define and shape our identity, in our own eyes and in the eyes of others. You are what you eat, and sometimes you are what others see you eat.”
Photo: JoDuck
Food seduces us through the sound of a sizzling sunny-side-up egg, the aroma of freshly baked bread, the sight of grill marks on seared meat, and the tactile sensation of holding a ripe avocado. Surprisingly, taste is the last sense to join this seductive dance. The other four senses – sight, smell, touch, and hearing – play crucial roles in kindling desire or repulsion for food.
Photo: JoDuck
From our prehistoric ancestors’ gathering and hunting to modern processes of enhancement and preservation, food has shaped, seduced, and defined us. It categorizes us personally, collectively, and socially based on what we consume and how. For the design world, food serves as both raw material and symbol, with designers involved in various stages of food’s life cycle, responding to contemporary consumer culture. The exhibition is divided into three chapters: “Needs and Desires,” “Attraction and Repulsion,” and “Restraint, Preservation, and Liberation,” all interwoven with the theme of seduction.
Photo: Lernert&Sander
Curated by Lior Hermoni-Gati, this exhibition explores the role of food coloring and how vision influences our interpretation of food colors. It invites visitors to reflect on the cultural context of food and its taste. Color plays a significant role in our perception of taste, and this connection has deep roots in human history. From hunter-gatherers using color to identify food sources to ancient Egyptians enhancing the hues of sweets, color has been a powerful tool in food seduction.
Photo: Elad Sarig
Today, bold artificial colors in foods create expectations of rich flavors. However, the awareness of the dangers associated with synthetic food coloring has led to a demand for natural alternatives. The exhibition questions how dominant color is in shaping our expectations of flavor, examining the symbolism and meanings tied to food colors. It covers everything from the aesthetics of food packaging to the significance of colors like red, green, and even black in the context of food.
Photo: Elad Sarig
Curated by Talia Janover, this interactive, AI-powered sensory installation explores the future of food. It encourages visitors to explore the relationship between scent, memory, and the beauty of imperfection. While human needs for food haven’t changed in over 200,000 years, our relationship with our environment has shifted dramatically. Modern society often seeks to conquer nature, ignoring the ecological crisis we now face.
Cloaca Machine by Wim Delvoye, 2012 Photo: Elad Sarig
This exhibit raises questions about the cultural and nutritional changes needed for our survival. It explores the potential roles of insects, mushrooms, and seaweed in our diets and the techniques we might employ to prepare future foods. It also dives into the multitude of senses beyond the traditional five, offering insights into how these senses shape our perception of food.
Photo: Elad Sarig
Intriguing, thought-provoking, and visually stunning, Design Museum Holon’s current exhibition challenges us to reconsider our relationship with food and its role in shaping our culture and identity. It invites us to savor every aspect of this intricate connection between food and design, leaving us with a deeper appreciation for the artistry of the culinary world and its power to seduce both our palates and our imaginations.
Photography courtesy of v2com.
