Young artists inspired by nature photographer Danny Brown

Photo courtesy of Brenda Hente

 After yesterday's tragic events in Boston, I hope you can find a little solace in this simple post about a collaboration between a teacher, Brenda Hente, above right, and nature photographer, Danny Brown, above left, that led to an exhibition of art by 7th & 8th graders from Olivette's Immanuel Lutheran School in Forest Park.

"Six degrees of separation" may be an overused expression, but it explains how these connections began. They revolve around Mark Glenshaw, the Owlman of Forest Park, and his seven-year study of the Great Horned Owls he observes and writes about on his blog. Brenda, who has been teaching for 26 years, is a regular visitor to the park, and seems, in my opinion, almost as knowledgeable as Mark when it comes to owls. In addition to many evening hours spent observing the owls in Forest Park, she follows a pair of Great Horned Owls in a wooded area near her home. While on an owl prowl in Forest Park a couple of years ago, Brenda met photographer Danny Brown, a Missouri Department of Conservation fisheries biologist.  At the time Danny, whose nature photography is highly regarded for its beauty and detail, was photographing the owls for his Nature Frames blog. Danny and Brenda became friends and she suggested that his photography be used as subject matter for her students' art curriculum. She called the class "Nature Frame Mondays." Twenty-three 7th and 8th graders studied the photographs on Danny's blog and learned about the animals posted there each week. The students also met the photographer in Forest Park, chose a photograph to depict, and worked on their multi-media projects over the course of the school year.

Last Monday evening Forest Park Forever sponsored an exhibition of finished work from Nature Frame Mondays in the Trolley Room at the Dennis and Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center, as part of its Voyagers of Learning Rendezvous program.

The Trolley Room at the Visitor Center was filled with excited artists,
proud parents, and restless siblings, as well as staff members of Forest Park Forever. The evening concluded with slides presented by Danny Brown showing photographs of Missouri's natural wonders and wildlife.

Danny Brown, above, is shown with papier-mache bird sculptures made by the students. Examples of the photographer's work was on view at the opening alongside the art created by the students. See below:

Photo courtesy of Danny Brown

 

Photo courtesy of Danny Brown

The students shown above fashioned owl heads out of pottery with inspiration from Danny's photograph shown on the table. Unfortunately the charming pieces don't show up well in my photograph. My apologies to the artists! 

Photo courtesy of Danny Brown

Some of the art from the exhibition will
remain on view at the Dennis and Judith Jones Visitor Center in Forest
Park until Earth Day, Monday, April 22 May 13!

A stunning photograph of a hooded merganser taken in Forest Park was featured on a posting to introduce Danny Brown to readers of this blog last December.

Thank you Brenda for inviting me to the exhibition. (We initially met on an owl prowl a couple of years ago and have seen each other since while in the park observing the owls.) Nature Frame Mondays produced delightful work and it was wonderful to meet some of Immanuel Lutheran School's students. I also loved  the chance to meet Danny Brown last week, whose work I admire greatly. There is a link to his blog under "inspirations" found on the right-hand column.