The World's Best Speaker on the Merger of Art and Science thanks me for an arranged gift.


Barney Lipscomb

to meEdward
Graham,

What wonderful news on Thanksgiving Day. Truly a gift to be thankful for and I join our director, Dr. Ed Schneider, in expressing a heart of gratitude.  One immediate opportunity to share these works of art with BRIT visitors would be to display the botanical art in our welcome and reception area. A more dedicated exhibit will be possible when there is an opening in the Madeline R. Samples Exhibit Hall at BRIT.  The Madeline R. Samples Exhibit Hall is the exact spot where BRIT proudly hosted (fall 2012) a unique exhibit of botanical art from the 16th century through the 19th century (thanks to Arader Gallery) and paired with specimens from BRIT’s world-class herbarium and rare book library. Exhibited works included those by Pierre-Joseph Redoute, Georg Dionysisus Ehret, Maria Sibylla Merian, John James Audubon, Jacques LeMoyne, and more. This was truly a rare opportunity to see originals and prints of some outstanding pieces of art which exhibit the hallmarks of art and science.  Graham, that natural history art exhibition still holds the top prize for the most beautiful and inspiring art work ever exhibited at BRIT.  It was an exhibition that looked like something right out of the Kimbell Art Museum. And I haven't forgotten the beautiful Redoute water colors on vellum you loaned for the Redoute exhibition at the Kimbell in 2002-2003.

I'm back on the farm in sw Oklahoma where I spent Thanksgiving with family.  It's a place where I grew up and experienced mother nature in her glory. It's a place where I  see the beautiful night skies filled with billions and billions of stars. Being back home with nature is a beautiful and wonderful reminder of how much I/we need nature and perhaps even more, it's a conscious reminder that we remain part of nature, not apart from it.

Can't wait to see the botanical engravings and lithographs. Seeing natural history works of art can remind anyone of memories and experiences with nature and perhaps inspire greater appreciation and even conservation today. Art has a way of changing the way we see the world and I believe these works of art will inspire visitors and bring  more visitors to BRIT.

Thanks Graham!
--Barney

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