By Naomi Fisher, Bas Fisher Invitational

The Bas Fisher Invitational is excited to present a talk by Dr. David Lee, author of Nature’s Palette: the Science of Plant Color about the connection between Nature, Science, and the Arts.  He is interested in exploring with artists how that relationship is experienced and presented creatively, to help in our attempts to preserve it.  According to Lee, “How we relate to Nature is very important.  Understanding Nature may provide clues to how we may continue to value what is left of the natural world.”  A botanist for over 30 years, Lee’s interest in how culture and philosophy link with the natural world, particularly in South Florida, will be geared towards the art community with a presentation of images, texts, and sound.  Lee’s work is a potent reminder of how deeply interwoven plant colors are with human life and culture.

From a review of Nature’s Palette; “Though he didn’t realize it at the time, David Lee began this book twenty-five years ago as he was hiking in the mountains outside Kuala Lumpur. Surrounded by the wonders of the jungle, Lee found his attention drawn to one plant in particular, a species of fern whose electric blue leaves shimmered amidst the surrounding green. The evolutionary wonder of the fern’s extravagant beauty filled Lee with awe—and set him on a career-long journey to understand everything about plant colors.”

This is the first public program as part of WEIRD MIAMI, a project to integrate the South Florida community with creative city tours that turns locals into tourists as they discover unnoticed and unknown places while tracing undocumented histories, redrawing maps and making new friends.

David Lee is the former director of The Kampong.  Lee recently retired from FIU, where he had served as chairperson of the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University, and had worked for 26 years.  Lee has conducted fieldwork throughout the tropics and in the Everglades, and has authored some 75 peer-reviewed articles and 7 books.