The 2009-2010 National Geographic Live Arizona Speaker Series Presents Paul Nicklen 12/2

The 2009-2010 National Geographic Live Arizona speaker series, sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, brings National Geographic photographer, Paul Nicklen, to Mesa Arts Center on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Ikeda Theater. Nicklen's images take visitors underwater and across the ice, delivering a unique close-up of wildlife in the Arctic and Antarctic. Tickets are available through the Mesa Arts Center Box Office at mesaartscenter.com or by calling 480-644-6500.

Nicklen, who regards himself as an ambassador for polar life, grew up in a small Inuit community in the Canadian Arctic. From an early age he learned how to survive in the frozen terrain and developed a passion for the wildlife around him. Originally a marine biologist, Nicklen decided to turn his passion for photography into a career. His nature photographs have been published in hundreds of magazines around the world, including ten feature stories for National Geographic, and his new book "Polar Obsession" will be released by National Geographic Books' Focal Point imprint on Nov. 10 (ISBN: 978-1-4262-0511-8; $50; hardcover).

Today his expeditions take him to the ends of the Earth in pursuit of rare, close-up photographs of polar species, their intriguing ways and their environs. Constantly honing his understanding of wildlife behavior in order to approach the animals in their most intimate natural settings, he uses photography to dispel myths, reveal rarely seen behaviors and intensify the world's interest in the entire polar ecosystem.

In conjunction with the speaker series, Nicklen's photographs will be featured in an exhibition at Mesa Contemporary Arts December 4- February 28. The exhibition will focus on the wondrous creatures and remote landscapes found in the polar regions of our planet.

National Geographic and Mesa Arts Center will also present a companion event for area students and educators. Each of the speakers featured in the evening series will present a matinee performance specifically geared to students (primarily middle school students). Lessons plans and other related materials are available in preparation for the events. Schools may register on a first-come, first-served basis for these matinees at www.nglive.org/arizona.

 

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