The exhibit “From the Sea, For the Sea” will include Linda Vorobik’s undersea watercolors and hand-painted silks, and Cathleen Wilson’s underwater photography. Both Vorobik and Wilson are south end residents who live by the water and love what they see: on the beaches and shores, and (for Wilson who is an intrepid snorkeler) undersea life. Both artists are biologists who have specialized in terrestrial life. However, their knowledge coupled with their love of aquatic life has resulted in concern for the changes they are noticing and the decrease in numbers and diversity of undersea creatures. Through their art these two artists hope to increase awareness of life in the Salish Sea and other waters, and inspire love for our marine neighbors.
Cathleen Wilson is an ecologist and photographer. She worked for many years doing ecological research in Olympic and Yellowstone National Parks, and in Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, Kenya, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelle Islands. Cathy has lived on Lopez Island for the last 21 years and began snorkeling and capturing photos of sea creatures in Hughes Bay about 8 years ago. She snorkels with a camera and a mask, no wetsuit, all year around. Her goal is to make people aware of what beautiful and amazing beings surround us in the Salish Sea. “Hopefully more awareness of these beings will bring more empathy for the oceans and the planet”.
Linda Ann Vorobik is a PhD Botanist and Botanical Artist. She is known primarily as a botanical illustrator for books and journals scientific journals (for more information see www.VorobikBotanicalArt.com). In this show she tackles aquatic subjects, and happily relives, through art, moments from our local beaches and in the waters off Hawaii, Tonga, and Palau. Her small paintings are watercolor with ink; her wall hangings and scarves are hand-painted silks, done with gutta resists and French dyes.