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Exquisite Creatures
The following description was submitted by the event organizer.
Exquisite Creatures, an artistic experience that unravels humanity’s intimate relationship with the natural world, makes its Oregon debut at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) on Oct. 5, 2019. Artist, naturalist and New York Times bestselling author Christopher Marley reveals the obscure beauty in nature through his three-dimensional work with animal, mineral and plant specimens.
Guests will experience the ancient connection between art, nature and science at Marley’s awe-inspiring exhibit. Tapping the natural world as his medium, his revolutionary work features rare elements of nature in the precise geometric compositions that have become his signature.
“Whether or not we consider ourselves nature enthusiasts, the love of life affects us all – we are instinctively inclined to care for it, to understand it, and to be good stewards of it,” said Christopher Marley. “I am thrilled to share Exquisite Creatures with the Portland community because I believe visual enjoyment of the natural world is one of the most effective tools for motivating learning and understanding.”
All of the organisms used in Marley's work are either reclaimed (in the case of vertebrates) or sustainably obtained (in the case of insects) using a worldwide network of people and institutions that share his passion for nature.
Marley works to remove much of the threat we naturally feel from unfamiliar organisms by focusing on their physical design elements. He believes the love for non-human life we innately possess can sometimes be overshadowed by the threat of the unknown. When experienced as an element of a geometric composition, a texture study or a color story, even the most fearsome organisms can be experienced with fresh eyes.
“Exquisite Creatures opens the door to a variety of complex topics by highlighting nature’s inherent beauty and design,” said Nancy Stueber, OMSI president and CEO. “This exhibit is a stunning and insightful way to show that art, science and nature are very much linked together and does a great job at making those topics accessible to audiences of all ages.”
Exquisite Creatures is on view at OMSI Oct. 5, 2019 – Feb. 17, 2020, and is made by possible through generous support from local presenting sponsor U.S. Bank, and supporting sponsor Oregon Cultural Trust.
“Through our Community Possible giving and engagement program, we focus on the areas of Work, Home and Play,” said Stacey Dodson, Portland market president for U.S. Bank. “We especially believe in the power of play and its ability to bring joy, creativity and curiosity and to build interpersonal social and emotional skills. That is why we are so pleased to partner with OMSI on this opportunity to bring Exquisite Creatures to our community."