“The Winged Sentinels of Monterey Bay” art exhibit captures the essence of iconic local
seabirds in a special one-night-only exhibit
SANTA CRUZ (June 26, 2023) — On First Friday, step into a world where art and science intertwine
as Oikonos and the Seymour Marine Discovery Center present the free-to-attend art exhibition, “The
Winged Sentinels of the Monterey Bay” one-night-only exhibit from 4-8 p.m. July 7 at the Seymour
Center.
This art exhibit will feature the work of four talented local artists who have immersed themselves in the
ecologic wonders of Año Nuevo Island, spending a few days on site producing scientific illustrations of
Their scientific illustrations, visual representations of scientific subjects, use a variety of techniques from pen-and-ink, watercolor, digital media and 3D modeling.
“Bring your friends family down to the Seymour Center on First Friday. “Normally, we see flocks of sea birds whooshing past us on the cliffs. Or, an individual at a distance,” said Jonathan Hicken, Executive Director of the Seymour Marine Discovery Center at UC Santa Cruz. “At this show, you’ll have a chance to slow down, get close, and appreciate their beauty and scientific importance to our ecosystem, especially at Año Nuevo Island.”
Año Nuevo Island, located north of Santa Cruz near the San Mateo County line, is a State Parks property open only to scientific researchers. The artist residency program was an opportunity to delve into seabird ecology and their vital role in shaping the webs of life on the island and in the larger coastal ecosystem.
“It was amazing to be surrounded by untamed wildlife and observe research in action,” said Constance Speer, one of the featured artists. “Before this trip, I had never seen a Western Gull’s eggs. During my visit to the island, I saw not only Western Gull eggs, but I had the opportunity to peer into a Rhinoceros Auklet’s burrow through a research camera. Observing these seabirds in their natural habitat allows me to better understand the birds’ anatomy and behavior.”
“The Winged Sentinels of Monterey Bay” exhibit will only be shown on July 7. It is free to the public. RSVP to the First Friday event here.
Seymour Marine Discovery Center is the public education center for the University of California, Santa Cruz, Long Marine Lab, a world-renowned center for innovative research in coastal ecology, marine vertebrates and invertebrates, and marine mammal studies in the lab and field, including physiology, sensory reception, behavior and bioacoustics. Seymour Marine Discovery Center offers visitors numerous unique, educational and interactive indoor and outdoor exhibits for all ages for a glimpse into the research studies taking place.
Oikonos is a non-profit organization that studies and protects imperiled ecosystems by engaging diverse communities through innovative scientific and artistic collaborations.
The Seymour Center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the summer (through Aug. 13). Regular hours resume Aug. 15 and are Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. General admission for adult $12, senior $11, child $9, toddlers and members are free. Annual memberships begin at $50/year and pay for themselves in just a few visits. Parking is $1.50/hour on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and free on weekends.
Seymour Discovery Center is located at 100 McAllister Way in Santa Cruz, California.
About Seymour Marine Discovery Center
The Seymour Marine Discovery Center is a community-supported marine science education center operated by the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Seymour Center is dedicated to educating people about the role scientific research plays in the understanding and conservation of the world’s oceans. Learn more at https://seymourcenter.ucsc.edu, and on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
