VERO BEACH — From early primitive art 40,000 years ago through Western and Eastern history, bird art reflects our human sensitivity and growing understanding.
Birds are important parts of our lives, can be seen daily almost anywhere we are outdoors, and are also a source of food, beauty, curiosity, and wonder. They can be portrayed in symbol, myth, and art in all their diversity in a great range of art with different styles from elaborate exotic birds to detailed scientific illustrations.
Even ornithology illustrations, some of the most artistic and beautiful volumes in printing history, have developed depicting the evolving human knowledge of birds.
Come hear stories and appreciate art of ornithologists and artists, pioneers in creativity, and exploration of the world of birds.
Life long history of interests in art and birds has come together after a professional life of helping others as a licensed clinical psychologist. Professor emerita Juanita Baker, Ph.D. joined Florida Tech in 1984 in the Department of Psychology whose focus is training graduate students to be psychologists.
She taught, carried out research, supervised clinical work, and was Director of the Family Learning Program until 2007, a sexual abuse treatment program for children and adolescents who were victims of sexual abuse, their nonoffending caregivers, siblings, and their offenders.
Her new project is launching the Psychology Science Minute on WFIT. Getting out in nature observing birds always has been a restoring retreat. As a youth, showing an early interest in birds, marveling at back yard birds, collecting bird nests, going on field trips with a science teacher, and loving art, a friend started her on an interest in bird art when she gave her a book of Audubon’s bird prints.
With the Internet, a world of bird art has opened to humankind, leading her to study and “collect” bird art throughout art history. She will share this stunning artwork that reflects the history of art as well as ornithology.
This event will take place on May 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Vero Beach Community Center at 2266 14th Ave. in Vero Beach.