Plucked from the pages of the mammoth book, “Hotspots Revisited” a second in the series of books defining “Earth’s Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial Ecoregions”, Calley asked and obtained permission of the photographer Piotr Nascrecki, Ph.D., renowned wildlife photographer and scholar of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, at Harvard University, to use the red-eyed tree frog as a model for the latest stained glass window. Lamar just finished it, and we are thrilled with it’s outcome!
Of note is the “floating frame” which will enhance and unite each of the 36 stained glass windows of the “Grotto of Hope”, which Calley believes will be the most important part of the entire exhibit. The white frame gives room and light between each image and the universal border. Calley designed the four corners to represent the hands of humankind in all its diversity, with the hope that humankind can take the problems of the earth in hand and make a difference.
The Grotto of Hope will have 36 exquisite illuminated stained glass windows (40” square) featuring an endangered species from each of the Earth’s 34 terrestrial biodiversity hot spots, where more than half of the Earth’s plant species, nearly a third of all the mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians live on less than 2.3% of the Earth’s. There will be two windows for the ocean, deep and reef. The life forms include spectacular flora, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals.. A central stained glass skylight of Sun, Moon, and Earth illuminates the carved Earth Prayer Wheel below honoring the five high-biodiversity wilderness areas.
Candidates for the next 32 windows are being chosen, and permission of their photographers is being requested. If YOU know of a fabulous photo of an endangered species, please let us know, and we will consider its inclusion.
Besides the frog, the first window completed was of the Hawksbill Turtle, with photo credits to Paul McCormick.
Calley changed the design of the border frame after the Honu window was done, which means that Lamar will remove and replace this border with the white inset as seen on the frog window. Click on either photo, to visit the page on the website for more detailed photos, and for a glimpse of the watercolors Calley painted to design the window from. The turtle shells and fins were fired in a kiln to achieve the spectacular likeness to a real turtle’s textures.
Truly a work of love, this project continues to improve with each layer of learning, research, experience, and serendipity! Who can imagine how spectacular the entire exhibit will be?
Lovingly,
Julia Fairchild, Web Weaver, Blogger, and Rama Team Member
The Rama Exhibition 