By Khalida Sarwari
The artist behind the latest exhibit at the Aegis Gallery of Fine Art is a familiar face. Pat Puder, one of a handful of artists who founded the gallery 20 years ago, is exhibiting a collection of her photos from the last nine years.
The exhibit, titled “A Closer Look, A Broader View: Panoramas and Portraits in Nature,” is a 33-photo compilation of animal portraits and landscapes taken as recently as this summer and going back to 2004.
The purpose of the exhibit, Puder said, is to connect people with nature and to help them absorb the different environments, such as deserts, oceans and forests.
“I see art as a method of communication,” Puder said. “I myself am inspired and given life by nature, and I feel a strong connection with other creatures, and so as a way of communicating, I’m hoping my artwork can help people connect and also to see the different animals for their personalities.”
One of the highlights in the collection, Puder said, is a photo of a fishing cat taken at the San Francisco Zoo. The fishing cat is a medium-sized wild cat found in South and Southeast Asia that has been classified as endangered.
Birds and reptiles are also represented in the collection of animal portraits, some of which were taken at Safari West in Santa Rosa, in addition to the San Francisco Zoo. Photos of otters, pelicans and other sea birds captured along the California coast are included in the display.
There are also some landscapes and panoramas in the exhibit, of places such as Nambia and Coachella Valley, along with national parks in Utah, Oregon and California, such as Sequoia, Mt. Shasta and Yosemite.
The last time Puder was a featured artist at Aegis was about three years ago. Her photography was also exhibited earlier this year at the Saratoga Library.
Art is a fulltime profession for Puder and is a skill that runs in the family. Her father, William Puder, was a stained glass and copper artist. The Puder family are longtime residents of Saratoga, having moved to the city in 1958.
The exhibit will run through Sept. 29. A gala reception–with Puder in attendance, along with her husband, local musician Michael Simpson–will be held Sept. 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. Simpson will be playing acoustic guitar at the reception and other Aegis artists are also expected to attend. Refreshments will be served.
Both the exhibit and reception are free and open to the public.
Aegis Gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
Puder’s collection of wildlife photos is now on display at Aegis Gallery
