From December 9 through February 11, 2017 Coos Art Museum will be hosting Tidal Waters by the Oregon Group, Guild of Natural Science Illustrators. The exhibition opens with a free reception for the public at the Museum on Friday, December 9, 2016 from 5pm until 7pm. Thirty works by eleven artists will be on display in the Museum’s Clare Wehrle Gallery. Science Illustrators are artists in the service of science. They use scientifically informed observation, combined with technical and aesthetic skills to accurately portray their subjects. This compilation of artwork follows in the long tradition of scientific illustration where attention to detail and accuracy was paramount. The artwork allows viewers to observe the unobservable, the beauty of nature up close. The subject matter included in this exhibit focuses on species associated with the tidal water areas of Oregon. Some of the artists have interest in several fields of science, which are reflected in their subject matter such as plants, animals, and insects that are painted, drawn or digitally produced. Or they may specialize in specific fields of science such as botany, wildlife animals, insect, reptile, and avian sciences. The Guild of Natural Science Illustrators (GNSI) – Oregon Group is a collection of about twenty artists, spread across the state of Oregon. They sponsor field trips, lectures and educational workshops across the state and are affiliated with the national GNSI organization. Information about the group can be found on their website http://www.gnsi-oregon.org.
