MONTH-LONG STAY ON ISOLATED ISLAND INSPIRES ARTISTS

Photographer Ian Wilson-Navarro lived at Dry Tortugas National Park for a month with fellow artist Austin Armstrong, who uses the Japanese technique of gyotaku to make precise prints of fish and other marine life. IAN WILSON-NAVARRO/Contributed

The Dry Tortugas National Park will be featured at an art exhibit, live demonstration, discussion and book signing on Saturday, Feb. 1 at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center.

In partnership with the Key West Art & Historical Society and Florida Humanities, the Eco-Discovery Center at Truman Waterfront will host the event that celebrates the history, ecology and beauty of the remote islands that make up Dry Tortugas National Park, through Ian Wilson-Navarro’s new photography book, “Dry Tortugas: Stronghold of Nature.”

The free event takes place Feb. 1 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and includes a live gyotaku demonstration, a photography and print exhibit, short presentations by local experts, a moderated discussion with the artists and a book signing.

An evening event on Feb. 1 will include an art exhibit, book-signing and expert discussion about Dry Tortugas National Park. IAN WILSON-NAVARRO/Contributed

Wilson-Navarro’s photography book, published by University Press of Florida, chronicles his 2021 artist-in-residency on Loggerhead Key, facilitated by the National Park Arts Foundation.  He and his friend and fellow artist Austin Armstrong spent a month living at Dry Tortugas National Park with the goal of documenting the ecological treasures the remote location had to offer. Wilson-Navarro, a Florida Keys native, nature photographer and Keys Weekly contributor, captured images of the park above and below the waterline, while Armstrong, also a Florida Keys native, made prints using gyotaku, the traditional Japanese art form of capturing exact representations of fish created by pressing paper onto the skin painted with a thin layer of ink.

A reception with light refreshments and a first look at the joint exhibit will kick off the event before Armstrong delivers a live demonstration of gyotaku in the Eco-Discovery Center’s foyer.  Attendees will have the opportunity to make their own gyotaku with simulated fish courtesy of the society’s education department. Local authors and experts who contributed knowledge and experience to Wilson-Navarro’s book will share their insights in short presentations: Nan Klingener of Monroe County Public Library, Cori Convertito of the Key West Art & Historical Society and Curtis Hall of Dry Tortugas National Park.

Convertito then will lead a conversation with Wilson-Navarro and Armstrong that delves into the details of the artist residency program that enabled the pair to live at the Dry Tortugas National Park and record the environment.

Following the discussion, attendees can pick up a copy of “Dry Tortugas,” explore the newly-renovated Eco-Discovery Center and speak with staff members of Florida Humanities, which co-published the book.The evening is free and open to all ages. Due to limited seating capacity, registration is required for the short talks and moderated conversation. All other components are open and do not require a ticket. For more information about the event, contact Convertito at 305-295-6616 x507 or cconvertito@kwahs.org. More information is at kwahs.org/dry-tortugas-book-talk.