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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact:
Paty
Wilson
Phone:
480/481-8101
FAX:
480/481-8124
E-Mail: pwilson@dbg.org
BOTANICAL
ILLUSTRATIONS FROM THE DESERT BOTANICAL
GARDEN’S PRIVATE COLLECTION AVAILABLE
TO THE PUBLIC
PHOENIX, AZ (June 11, 2003) – The
Desert Botanical Garden is pleased to announce an innovative
service to its visitors. The Desert Botanical Garden
in association with LookClickPrint, Inc. are now offering
access to selected Desert Botanical Garden images from
its private collection of botanical illustrations. All
prints are made to order, premium-quality reproductions
using archival inks, papers, and canvas. LookClickPrint,
Inc. combines the traditional skills of a master printmaker
with modern printing techniques to faithfully recreate
the delicate colors, shading and detail of these lovely
works of art. Visitors can view and purchase these
wonderful botanical illustrations at the electronic kiosk
located in the Garden Shop, through the Garden’s
website at www.dbg.org or
by visiting www.lookclickprint.com. Prints
ordered through the kiosk at the Garden shop or via the
Internet are made to the customer’s specific order
and shipped directly to the customer.
The Desert Botanical Garden has in its collection
six hundred images-original paintings, drawings, and
prints dating from the 1600s to the present. The
Garden has made available only a limited number of specially
selected cactus and succulent prints for sale. Additional
illustrations will be added to the selection in time. “Now
Garden members and visitors can enjoy the beauty of our
botanical prints while the originals remain safely archived,” said
Beth Brand, the Garden’s librarian.
The Garden’s special collection is stored away
from ultraviolet light and is usually available for public
viewing only as part of an exhibit. The collection
concentrates on desert plants, especially those of the
southwestern United States and northern Mexico, but it
also includes images of plants originally from the desert
areas of southern Africa, from the islands of the West
Indies, from Australia, and even from
European gardens. The Garden collection is unique
in that its concentration is almost totally on flowering
succulent plants. The major part of the collection
was realized in 1968 as part of the Max C. Richter
Memorial donation. The development of the Garden’s
botanical illustration collection is really the result
of the inspiration and energy of two people in 1977:
Garden Director Rodney Engard and volunteer Lillian Diven. Botanical
paintings, drawings, and prints continue to be useful
scientific tools, and now through the Desert Botanical
Garden, these images can also be enjoyed for their beauty.
The
Desert Botanical Garden, located at 1201 North Galvin
Parkway, in Phoenix, Ariz., is open daily (except Dec.
25 and July 4) from 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Admission
rates: $7.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors, $4.00 for
students [13-18 years-of-age and college with proper
ID], $3.50 for children 3-12 years-of-age); members and
children under 3-years-of-age are free. For
additional information call 480-941-1225 or visit www.dbg.org.
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