My mild case of spring fever is morphing into wanderlust. Maybe it’s just me, shaking off the dregs of winter, but I suspect I’m not alone.
Because travel requires two valuable commodities – time and treasure, I’ll suggest a remedy.
Visits to the Woodson Art Museum – always admission free – offer virtual vacations this spring. The National Geographic exhibition, Rarely Seen: Photographs of the Extraordinary, features astonishing moments, events, and natural wonders from throughout the world. Let your mind do the wandering as you stroll the galleries and take in the exhilarating views.
Bill Young, “Thor’s Well,” Oregon, from the National Geographic exhibition “Rarely Seen”
I’ve always wanted to visit the Oregon coast; after seeing an intriguing image by photographer Bill Young, Thor’s Well on Cape Perpetua is now a must-visit on my bucket list. While standing in the galleries, I’m transported and awed, imagining the bone-chilling dread seafarers must’ve felt when spotting a chasm resembling an enormous drain pulling Pacific waves into an abyss. A label adjacent to the photograph explains that the hole is 20 feet deep. Even so, for anyone venturing near at high tide, it must be a petrifying sight.
Ian Plant, “Ice Cave,” Wisconsin, from the National Geographic exhibition “Rarely Seen”
Imagine the adventures and perils photographers experienced capturing the shots, too. Whether hanging over an active volcano’s rim or battling the elements in colder climes, Ian Plant pursues his photography quest. Plant, whose Ice Cave is included in the exhibition, shares tales of his experiences and expeditions during his Museum residency, Saturday and Sunday, May 12 and 13, when he leads a gallery walk, photography class, and a public presentation. Check the Museum’s events calendar for details about these programs and many others for all ages.
Rarely Seen is organized and traveled by the National Geographic Society and remains on view at the Woodson Art Museum through Sunday, May 27. Throughout this spring, delve into photography themes via hands-on activities in Art Park, the Museum’s interactive family gallery, participate in an array of programs, compose your own scene and story on an Activity Guide, meander through galleries, and send your imagination soaring – just the virtual-travel ticket for treating bouts of wanderlust.
Charles Jorgensen, “Pronking Bok,” South Africa, from the National Geographic exhibition “Rarely Seen”
