From the Mountains to the Sea: Plants, Trees, and Shrubs of New England
Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich, Vermont, welcomes visitors to the first traveling exhibition of The New England Society of Botanical Artists (NESBA) September 14 through December 1, 2013. From the Mountains to the Sea: Plants, Trees, and Shrubs of New England celebrates the beauty and diversity of New England's native plants through the artistic, scientific and technical aspects of botanical art and illustration.
This juried exhibition of more than 60 plant portraits is designed to promote public appreciation of the art and science of botanical art and illustration and to celebrate the diversity and beauty of plants from our own backyards.
New England is home to over 3,500 species of plants, which come in all shapes and sizes. Today, some 400-plus species are listed as rare or endangered.
“Botanical illustrations have a long and valued history in the world of science” commented Bob Raiselis, Montshire’s Exhibits Director. “A photograph can only show one example of a plant; an illustration by a skilled botanical illustrator can bring out the key characteristics of an entire species in their work, creating an iconic image of that plant and showing what differentiates that plant species from every other.”
Botanical art has documented the plant species of New England for centuries. Some species have disappeared, while others have moved recently into the region, following ever-shifting climates.
“Our native flora gives New England its distinctive character-think of fiery orange sugar maples ablaze in autumn, the vibrantly green swath of salt marshes along our coasts, or the tangled krummholz atop Mount Washington.” says Elizabeth Farnsworth, Senior Research Ecologist, New England Wild Flower Society. “Plants are the lungs of our planet, generating the very oxygen we breathe. They protect our waterways from erosion and filter pollutants. They provide habitat and food for all the birds, insects, and mammals that delight us.”
Visitors to From the Mountains to the Sea will be exposed to a wide variety of images of plant species as well as a large variety of artworks in several media by skilled illustrators who are members of The New England Society of Botanical Artists. Botanical illustration is part art and part science, and this exhibition features world-class illustrations of native New England plants by experts in their field.
The American Society of Botanical Artists, and its local chapter, The New England Society of Botanical Artists seek to: promote public appreciation of the art and science of botanical art and illustration; educate individuals and organizations about botanical art and illustration through exhibits, lectures, workshops, and outreach programs; understand the structure of plants and communicate this knowledge to their audience in an aesthetically pleasing manner; and preserve, protect and promote plant diversity.