City of Lake Charles, Louisiana

For Immediate Release:                 February 2, 2011

For Further Information Contact:   Denise Fasske, City of Lake Charles

The City of Lake Charles will host a new exhibition entitled Fragile Nature: Photographs by Joel Sartore. The public is invited to the opening reception Friday, February 18, from 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the 1911 Historic City Hall Arts & Cultural Center at 1001 Ryan Street.  There is no charge to attend, all ages are welcome and refreshments will be served.

Ever wonder what it's like to go 'On Assignment' for National Geographic? In these 63 color photographs and video presentation, photographer Joel Sartore takes the viewer on assignment with the world's greatest magazine. Fragile Nature is a journey into the natural world across much of North and South America, from jaguars and macaws to gray wolves and grizzly bears. In Sartore's own words, you'll hear the stories behind the photos. In plain talk Sartore details why species become endangered, what are their chances of recovery, and most importantly, what we all can do to help.

''The bottom line of this show is to get people thinking about the world we live in," Sartore said. "There's never been a moment in history when humans have been so disconnected from the natural world, and yet we're totally dependent on a healthy Earth for survival. We have to have clean air, clean water and good food. To think that we're not intimately tied to the natural world is folly.''

Sartore's work has been the subject of several television news and documentary programs and has garnered numerous awards. The showing here in Lake Charles is part of a national tour developed and managed by Smith Kramer Fine Art Services, an exhibition company located in Kansas City, Missouri.

 Historic City Hall Arts and Cultural Center is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Admission is free, but donations are gladly accepted.  For more information, please call 491-9147 or visit www.cityoflakecharles.com.

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