Spineless at the Whale Museum

Spineless: Portraits of Marine Invertebrates, the Backbone of Life Author Talk & Book Signing on July 24 – Susan Middleton photo

Come to The Whale Museum on Friday, July 24, at 6:30 p.m. for an Author Talk & Book Signing with Susan Middleton, author of the newly released book Spineless: Portraits of Marine Invertebrates, the Backbone of Life.

In her new book and exhibition at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, photographer Susan Middleton offers us a rare glimpse into the mysterious and beguiling world of marine invertebrates. A unique blend of art and science, this special presentation will reveal the spectacular diversity and astonishing beauty of this less celebrated realm of life upon which all other life depends.

Susan will introduce us to animals most of us never knew existed. They are marine invertebrates, creatures lacking a backbone that comprise over 98% of marine animals. Those spineless creatures that live in the marine environment of the San Juan Islands will be emphasized. Witness the elegant natural design, fragility, and resiliency of the marine invertebrate realm while Susan shares anecdotes about her field work and the process of making her stunning images, highlighting the essential role of marine invertebrates in the web of life. A book signing will follow the presentation.

Susan Middleton is an acclaimed photographer, author, lecturer, and Guggenheim fellow. Blending art and science, she specializes in the portraiture of rare and endangered animals, plants, sites, and cultures; has worked extensively with National Geographic and currently serves as Research Associate at the California Academy of Sciences. Her most recent book is Spineless: Portraits of Marine Invertebrates, the Backbone of Life (Abrams 2014). Her work is represented in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Art and the National Academy of Sciences. She lives in San Francisco.

The July 24 event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (360) 378-4710 ext.30.

The Whale Museum is located in Friday Harbor at 62 First St. N. Founded in 1976, The Whale Museum’s mission is to promote stewardship of whales through education and research. The Whale Museum can be found online at www.whalemuseum.org.

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