An
Overview of Willis Peterson’s Photo-Art Exhibit And
Books
“African Visions” is a dual exhibit of the extravagant wildlife of East Africa and the Masaai people and their culture. It is left to the viewer to ponder the coming collision of expanding populations with the need for keeping and cherishing wildlife’s historic position in the Serengeti and elsewhere in Africa.
“Egypt at a Glance” features the magnificence of that country’s past, the
stupendous temples, and tombs as well as scenes of modern day Cairo including
Alexandria and the bucolic countryside surrounding the Nile River. The image of
Tutankhamen’s golden effigy is the centerpiece.
“Mayan Mystery”
my newest endeavor features the Mayan
culture, though some Totonacan ruins are included as well. El Tajin, for
instance, because of its close proximity to the Maya cultures. Other tomb,
temple and building Maya sites include Chichen Itza, Kabah, and Palenque,
Yaxchilan, Bonampak and others. This exhibit is slated for exhibition in the
spring of 2008.
“Sri Lanka” shows the cultural and architectural ruins of a Sri Lankan period about
300 to 500 AD to 1400 to 1500 AD. Outstanding sculptures include, The Reclining
Buddha, some sixty feet in length. Another site depicts the sky island fortress
of Siguriya. A breathtaking series of soaring steps takes one to the top. There
are the famous cave paintings, called The Painted Ladies. Only five images
remain, it is said, of some thirty or more once found in a grotto.
As far as books are concerned, Beautiful America
Publishing produced a coffee table sized folio on my nature photography, The Glory of Nature’s Form.
From natural history articles published in Arizona Highways~
three children’s books were produced by Follet Publishers. Piti of
the Mogoion, Nature’s Lumberjack,
and Strange Animals of the
Southwest.
I have been a prominent contributor to Arizona Highways
with more than twenty some articles and or photographic portfolios beginning in
1953 to 1990. From one of my stories on Alaska, Reader’s Digest
reprinted in their coffee table collection of the best nature articles, “Denali
Interlude,” originally published from Audubon Magazine. National
Geographic also adapted, Nature’s Lumberjack, originally
from Arizona Highways into a chapter in their anthology, Strange
Animals.
Colorado Kid
~ Swedish American
~ ~ My autobiography, set in Colorado
Springs in the 30s, is a story of a boy growing up in the Great Depression,
seeing hobos sitting on box cars, listening to FDR giving his fireside chats,
making do and learning the difference between wants and needs. He lives in two
cultures, Swedish and American. There is his mother’s vision of a better life,
the dissention with the “old world” cantankerous and eccentric great aunt, and
finally, the boy, by dint of hard work, pulls himself up by his bootstraps
complete a three generation saga of perseverance and determination.willisroberta@wildapache.net
