April 26, 1997 to September 7, 1997
California Species:
Biological Art and Illustration
Presented by the Natural Sciences Department

The diversity of native California plants and animals will be celebrated in an exhibition of original artworks, California Species: Biological Art and Illustration, on view April 26 through September 7, 1997, at the Oakland Museum of California. The exhibition includes more than 60 works in a variety of media by 44 artists from throughout the United States. The popular juried exhibition, which has been presented five times in the past, returns to the museum after a hiatus of seven years. It is organized by museum preparator Gail Binder and presented by the Natural Sciences Department.

Works in the exhibition were selected based on both their aesthetic appeal and their elucidation of the species depicted. Biological illustration is based on precise rendering. Accuracy is essential, and illustrators must be versatile and in command of multiple techniques. They must also be sufficiently versed in their subjects to make renderings appear natural and lifelike. Works are often produced in conjunction with scientific text, or as part of displays in nature centers, museums and other exhibition spaces. They are often striking for their beauty, and many are presented as works of fine art in galleries, or available in prints and other media.

A wide variety of California species are represented in the exhibition, including tiny wasp, beetle and worm species, frogs, toads, ground squirrels, owls, egrets and other birds, and larger animals such as a bobcat and a killer whale. There is even a new species of slender salamander whose existence was only discovered in 1996. Plant illustrations and depicitions include cones, pods, seeds, cactus, wildflowers, orchids, trees, and many more. Works were created in watercolor, gouache, graphite and colored pencil, pen and ink, scratch board, linoleum block, monotype, acrylic, sculpture and mixed media. A station will be set up in the exhibition with prepared specimens and, on occasion, live animals so that visitors will have opportunities to try their own hands at biological illustration.

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