Visitors and residents alike are invited to escape the heat on an evening visit to the Allan Brooks Nature Centre.
The centre will open its doors for evening sunset viewings every Tuesday and Wednesday starting this Tuesday until Oct. 1.
“From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., all those interested in nature, sunsets, and incredible sweeping vistas are invited to come to the top of Mission Hill to take in the sights and sounds of the Okanagan at dusk,” said Aaron Deans, executive director of the Allan Brooks Nature Society.
Also starting Tuesday at 7 p.m., the Summer Sunset Series presents Ellen Rogers, artist-in-residence at the Caetani Cultural Centre who is working primarily on site at Allan Brooks, in a partnership between the two groups.
Rogers, a sculptor from New York state, is the first speaker in the Fresh! AiR artist series.
“Sunset talks will include a range of topics of local interest, from bird watching in the Okanagan to human-wildlife conflicts,” said Deans.
Rogers is a former veterinarian who has worked with elephants, lions and rhinos in Africa. Her sculptures are inspired by her fieldwork in Africa. Her talk will discuss her past experiences and how they relate to her current works.
“During her one-month residency, Rogers’ goal is to build sculptures and installations that visually tie together the interconnectedness of people and nature,” said Susan Brandoli, manager and coordinator of the artist-in-residence program at the Caetani Centre. “The sculptures will be displayed for the public, and she will donate a sculpture to the residency.
“Thanks to Aaron Deans and the Allan Brooks Nature Centre for providing endless studio space for Ellen Rogers and subsequent Fresh! AiR artists.”
The larger sculptures are currently being installed on the grounds of the Allan Brooks Nature Centre. The public is invited to visit her on-site during the centre’s regular hours.
Rogers is a recent MFA graduate from the Visual Studies Department at the University at Buffalo, as well as an alumnus of Harvard and Tufts University.
Prior to becoming an artist, Rogers earned her bachelor’s degree at Harvard and her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Tufts Veterinary School. Awarded the African Wildlife Medicine and Conservation Fellowship, Rogers trained in South Africa working hands-on with animals there.
During this time she was filmed for the 13-episode documentary, The Great African Wildlife Rescue, produced by Disney and shown on Animal Planet Channel and the Disney International Channel.
Rogers taught at Tufts and wildlife conservation medicine courses in South Africa and appeared as an on camera expert on the Discovery Channel TV series, Animal Face-Off.
Guests of the Summer Sunset Speaker series are encouraged to bring cameras and tripods to capture the views, as well as blankets and lawn chairs. Family-friendly refreshments, cookies, and ice cream will all be available for purchase at the nature centre. Free parking is readily accessible, and parking for those of limited mobility will be available at the upper level. Admission is by donation.
The Allan Brooks Nature Centre is at 250 Allan Brooks Way, off Mission Road, just above the army camp. For more information, call 250-260-4227 or see www.abnc.ca.
For more information on the Caetani Cultural Centre, see www.caetaniculturalcentre.org or call 250-275-1525.
