January 27, 2025 – (KEY WEST, FL). Florida Humanities, the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, and Key West Art & Historical Society invite the community to explore the history and natural beauty of the Dry Tortugas archipelago through Ian Wilson-Navarro’s new book “Dry Tortugas: Stronghold of Nature” at a multifaceted and dynamic night of history, ecology, preservation, and art. The free event takes place on February 1 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center in Key West and includes a live gyotaku demonstration, a photography and print exhibition, short presentations by local experts, a moderated discussion with the artists, and book signing.

The evening concentrates on Wilson-Navarro’s book, “Dry Tortugas,” published by University Press of Florida, which chronicles his 2021 artist-in-residency program on Loggerhead Key facilitated by the National Park Arts Foundation. Accompanied by friend and fellow artist Austin Armstrong, the pair 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 and nature photographer captured images of the park, both above and below the waterline, while Armstrong, also a Florida Keys native, thrived as a Gyotaku artist, 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 art exhibition 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. A short presentation in the theater by local authors and experts Nancy Klingener of Monroe County Public Libraries, Dr. Cori Convertito of the Key West Art & Historical Society, and Curtis Hall of Dry Tortugas National Park will share extracts from their contributions to Wilson-Navarro’s book. Following their presentations, Convertito will lead a conversation with Wilson-Navarro and Armstrong that delves into the finer details of the artist residency program that enabled the pair to live at the Dry Tortugas National Park and record the environment.

At the conclusion of the moderated conversation, attendees can pick up a copy of “Dry Tortugas,” explore the newly-renovated Eco-Discovery Center, and speak with Florida Humanities staff, co-publishers of 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 Cori Convertito on 305-295-6616 x507 or [email protected]. Additional details and the evening’s timeline can be found on the Society’s website kwahs.org/dry-tortugas-book-talk.

Your Museums. Your Community. It takes an Island.

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IMAGE 1: Join the Florida Humanities, Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center and the Key West Art & Historical Society for a free and multifaceted event related to the recent publication, “Dry Tortugas: Stronghold of Nature” by Ian Wilson-Navarro. The evenings events include an art exhibit, Gyotaku demonstration, short presentations, a moderated conversation, and book signing. Visit kwahs.org/dry-tortugas-book-talk for more information. (Photo credit: Ian Wilson-Navarro)

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