Photographer Michael Z. Taylor will be speaking at the Saturday session on September 7th at the Don Dexter Gallery and I think you will enjoy attending this event.

Michael’s major exhibition at the Dexter Gallery is all about our beautiful trees and is called “Willpower of Being: Finale.” It is the third in a trilogy of Michael’s tree exhibitions.

The first dealt with the self-awareness of trees in their eco-communities.

The second show focused on trees as unique individuals.

This third and visually very exciting show wants to encourage us to think about trees acting as autonomous beings.

“Mother Tree – the Comeback,” for example, is this sawn-off stump of a butterfly bush with a punk hairstyle made of new leaves like butterflies, as if to say, “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”

Michael is aware that his current battle with cancer may be related to the name of his exhibition, “Finale,” but he is willing and eager to talk about how finite our lives are compared to those of the amazing trees he photographs. In another portrait of four Oregon White Oaks, titled “Companionship,” Michael wants to highlight how tree companions are connected and communicate through their mycorrhizal networks.

Michael Z. Taylor’s Willfulness of Being: Finale is a powerful exploration of the interconnectedness and resilience of trees, a testament to nature’s enduring spirit, even in the face of adversity.

I like this quote from Donald L. Hicks that Michael posted: “If the tree doesn’t return your hug, it’s not the tree’s fault; it’s your heart’s fault.”

So, mark September 7th on your calendar and join us at the Don Dexter Gallery for a captivating conversation with Michael. Let’s celebrate the beauty and significance of these remarkable creatures that have stood the test of time.”