Gallery Opening Through Bartram's Eyes

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Gallery Opening Through Bartrams Eyes and the CD release Of Bartram songs by local artists

Article by Tricia Murphy of the Palatka Daily News

Art and history will come alive this month when famed naturalist, nurseryman, artist and author William Bartram (1739–1823) is remembered for his travels through this area during a program titled The Bartram Songs and Stories and a juried art show.
 
 
The event is sponsored by the Arts Council of Greater Palatka and The Bartram Society of Florida and will be Sept. 20 at the Larimer Arts Center, 216 Reid St. in Palatka.
 
Activities will begin with the gallery opening of the “Through Bartram’s Eyes: river, Flora and Fauna Scenes” art show. Hours are 5:30–7:30 p.m., and is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
 
According to gallery chairwoman, Evelyn Snyder, Bartram came to Putnam County twice during his travels.
 
“The first time was with his father, John, in 1775,” she said. “The second time, was in April 1774 when he came to explore and document what he found.”
 
Those discoveries led to Bartram’s illustrations of nature documented tropical flora and fauna and his vivid descriptions made his book, “Travels,” published in 1791, become a worldwide sensation. His book also included his encounters with the native people.
 
“While in Florida, he drew over 50 illustrations of plants, animals, fish, turtles and birds,” Snyder said. “Locally, we are largely unaware of the importance of his explorations and subsequent writings to literary history, environmental science and the settlement and later development of Florida. He and his cast of characters are uniquely ours. They belong to Putnam County – it’s our history and heritage.”
 
To see examples of Bartram’s illustrations, visit floridamuseum.ufl.edu/naturalists/bartramw01.htm.
 
The exhibit will be on display through Oct. 10. Regular gallery hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and during special events.
 
Guests are invited to stay for the live performance and CD release party featuring local singers/songwriters and storyteller, Mike Adams, emcee, portraying William Bartram offering narrative stories.
 
Featured singers include Chuck Hardwicke, Linda Crider, Sam Wimberly, Dean Parrish, Lee Pinkerson, Lee Kelly and Bill Snyder.
 
The concert is 7:30–9 p.m. Tickets are $7 per person. Seating is limited.
 
The CD was put together by Crider after a group of singers/songwriters got together in May.
 
“It’s a combined effort,” she said. “It has songs about the St. Johns River and Bartram songs.”
 
Proceeds from CD sales will go to the Bartram Society of Florida.
 
“It’s an evening with William Bartram is how I would bill it,” Crider said. “I think it will be interesting for people who live here or around her and are interested in the St. Johns River and how historical it is who William Bartram was and what they did before the Revolutionary War. It’s art and history.”