Use, Misuse and Restoration on the Colorado Plateau

Tom Bean, Michael Collier & Ed Dunn

FEBRUARY 7-MAY 3, 2020

The exhibit, "Use Mis-Use and Restoration on the Colorado Plateau," features the work of three photographers documenting the complexities of land use on our fragile landscape. Together, Tom Bean, Michael Collier and Ed Dunn ask the question: How can we best manage our forests, rangeland and public spaces to sustain life into the future? With striking aerial photographs and depictions of vast and sweeping landscapes, this show’s opening was held in conjunction with the First Friday Art Walk with presentations by the artists and discussion of their work. In “Dispassionate Landscapes,” Collier’s aerial photographs document the impact of industry on the land. Tom Bean traces the changes of four local restoration projects over time, including Rio de Flag Meander Restoration Project at Picture Canyon, the results of a forest thinning project in the Coconino National Forest on the south side of Lake Mary Road in Flagstaff and The Habitat Gardens at Willow Bend Environmental Education Center. Ed Dunn’s photos show the effects of grazing and fire on the soils of 10 different sites on the Colorado Plateau.

About the Artists

Tom Bean is a native of Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated from Iowa State University in 1971 with a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Biology. Tom developed an interest in nature photography while working as a seasonal park ranger in national parks in South Dakota, Alaska, and California. In 1982, he moved to Flagstaff to pursue a full time career as a freelance photographer with an emphasis on natural history, travel, and environmental issues. His photos have appeared in hundreds of magazines, calendars, textbooks and many other types of publications.

Michael Collier received his BS in geology at NAU, MS in structural geology at Stanford, and MD from the University of Arizona. He rowed boats commercially in Grand Canyon in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s and then practiced family medicine in northern Arizona. Collier has published books about the geology of Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Denali, and Capitol Reef National Parks. He has done books on the Colorado River basin, glaciers of Alaska, and a series on American mountains, rivers, and coastlines seen from the air. When working for the USGS as an undercover geologist, he produced books about the San Andreas Fault, downstream effects of dams, and climate change.

Ed Dunn was raised and lived in Phoenix most of his first 40 years, then moving to Flagstaff over 31 years ago. Graduated Arizona Sate University, BS Geography, Art minor, 1977 and M.Ed. 1981. He taught high school Social Studies and Art for 15 years before returning to his first interest, residential architecture. Over the past 30 years, he has designed and built many passive solar sustainable homes in Northern Arizona. Ed has been taking photos since age 10 and is most interested the Colorado Plateau, especially the San Francisco Volcanic Field, north of The Peaks. He has had many exhibits, retreats and currently shows his photos at The Artists Gallery in downtown Flagstaff.

Events:

Exhibit Opening & Artists’ Reception – February 7 • 6-8:30 pm

• Talks and slide presentations by Tom Bean, Michael Collier, and Ed Dunn (7pm).

• Music by Bill Burke and Tony Norris.

First Friday ArtWalk & Community Discussion – March 6 • 6 -8:30 pm

• “Managing Our Rangelands” (7pm) featuring Billy Cordasco, Manager, the Babbitt Ranches; Norm Lowe, President, Diablo Trust; Mike Macauley; owner, the Perrin Ranch and Board Member, Natural Resource Conversation District; Cerissa Hoglander, Land. Conservation Program Manager, Grand Canyon Trust.

• Music by Grand Canyon artist, Paul Karlsberger.

First Friday ArtWalk & Community Discussion – CANCELLED: DUE TO COVID PANDEMIC

• “Preserving the Land” (7pm) Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act – Amber Reimondo, Energy Program Director, GrandCanyon Trust on the Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act, plus presentations on the Native American perspective by Tommy Rock, PhD. Consultant, Inclusive Community, Monument Valley.

• Music by Mystic Harvest: Kate Watters and Mike Knapp.

First Friday ArtWalk & Community Discussion – CANCELLED: DUE TO COVID PANDEMIC

• “Maintaining Our Forests” (7pm). Dr. Wally Covington, Executive Director and Regents’ Professor Ecological Restoration Institute, NAU; Jeremy Kruger, Director, Four Forests Restoration Initiative, USDA; Art Babbott, Coconino County Supervisor.

• Music by Santa Fe virtuoso, Sid Hausman.