Professor Smith: “Nature Always Wins”

Nature is active in conquering us not only through the occasional earthquake or flood, but in the subtleties of vegetation that turn every settlement into an ongoing archaeological site. What do we see when we look down? Grass growing in the cracks of freeway pavements, and plants taking root in the little crevices of buildings and alleys.

Professor Monica L. Smith, an archaeologist and member of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA, takes us on a photographic journey to the world of vibrant and resilient vegetation underfoot. She shows us how an artist’s eye resides within all of us, enabling us to see what we usually filter out of our perception as we traverse the streets of Los Angeles.

The exhibit coincides with the release of her edited volume, The Power of Nature, published by the University Press of Colorado and featuring a number of UCLA authors.

Note: Exhibition runs from May 22-26, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.