Wyoming Arts Council

Sage Spirit Zimmerman Lecture at Casper College on Oct. 22

Featured News | October 15, 2015

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From a Casper College press release:

On October 22, conservation photographer and author Dave Showalter will present “Sage Spirit, The American West at a Crossroads” as a Zimmerman Lecture at 7 p.m. in the Wheeler Auditorium, Wold Physical Science Center on the Casper College campus.

During the presentation, Showalter will share striking images and a vision for conservation of our sweeping sagebrush landscapes. Wyoming’s public lands are central to the Sage Spirit story, representing our heritage and opportunity for a lasting legacy for future generations. Based on more than six years of fieldwork, Showalter’s inspiring and thought-provoking presentation will immerse the audience in this diverse, spacious, life-filled and threatened landscape.

Linking art, the humanities, and science, the Sage Spirit project seeks to influence the future of the American West through responsible land management that values people, wildlife, open spaces, clean air, and clean water. The Casper event is hosted by Sierra Club Wyoming Chapter, UW Biodiversity Institute, and the Casper College Zimmerman Lecture Series, with support from the Wyoming Humanities Council and Braided River Publishing.

Through his stunning photography, Showalter is working for a sustainable West, one, he says, “where future generations can also enjoy vistas free of drill pads and power lines, hillsides replete with wildlife and birdsong, and the sweet aroma of sage.” His images carry viewers through the vast terrain of the American West – across mountain ranges, through thunderstorms and snowfall, to ponds edged by sage, aspen, and conifers and rocky outcrops inhabited by burrowing owls and short-horned lizards.

“One look at Dave Showalter’s books will show you his great skills as a nature photographer. He’s also a fine writer and student of natural history. We are privileged to have him appearing at Casper College. His presentation is extremely relevant as we witness the fragmentation of sagebrush landscapes and the demise of iconic species like the Greater Sage Grouse across Wyoming and the West,” said Will Robinson, Casper College biology instructor.”

Thursday’s presentation on the Casper College campus is free and open to the public.

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