Artist at Exit 0 Riverblog

Since I will be away from my computer for a short while, I wanted to squeeze in one more post.  Recently, I went inside the Falls of the Ohio Interpretive Center and recorded these images of the display in their main hall.  The center is in the process of upgrading their exhibits, but I hope they choose to keep this centerpiece.  It is a three-dimensional collage of the history of life as it has presented itself at this location.  Here the ancient meets the contemporary, fact confronts legend, the terrestrial meets the aquatic, and fresh water mingles with the marine.

I have picked out a few details to present to you.  This display incorporates both traditional taxidermy and state of the art model making.  I love it because it retains this cabinet of curiosities feel to it and it has these unusual juxtapositions.  In the image above, a bison comes face to face with an ancient Devonian carnivorous fish!

And speaking of fish…here are a few representations of  fish that currently can be found in the Ohio River swimming along side this interpretation of an ancient shark.  Among the living species found here include the Paddlefish, Striped Bass, Walleye, and several large species of catfish.  The rocks in the park are loaded with marine fossils from the Devonian period (roughly 375 million years ago) which saw the first fish appear on life’s stage.  Interestingly, fish fossils are very rarely found here, but we have lots of evidence of different corals and brachiopods.

It’s the large view which includes this Mammoth skeleton replica that makes the biggest impression on visitors.  The center has done a good job of telling the story of the importance of the Falls of the Ohio and I look forward to seeing how their refreshed exhibits carry this mission forward. I’ll show you other display images later, but for now… see you next week.