The nature of Neil Johannsen’s art

Islander and environmentalist Neil Johannsen got a daily dose of the natural world during his career in public parks, which included stints as Alaska State Parks director and chief of operations of California State Parks.

When he retired to Bainbridge, he rekindled a life-long interest in painting, focusing in particular on “how the natural world separates color, light, form, texture and shadow, and how our perception blends them together in an organic whole…”

Johanssen’s recent work is on display through February in the meeting room of the Bainbridge Public Library, with a reception to be held from 3-5 p.m. Feb. 14. For more information, contact the library at 842-4162 or Johannsen at neil.johannsen@gmail.com.

This island writer takes ‘Flight’

Author, Outside Magazine contributing editor Bruce Barcott won raves last year for “The Last Flight of the Scarlet Macaw: One Woman’s Fight to Save the World’s Most Beautiful Bird.” The book, which chronicled Sharon Matola’s crusade to stop a multinational corporation from exterminating the last scarlet macaws of Belize, was featured on the cover of the New York Times Book Review upon its hardcover release and was later named one of the best books of 2008 by the Library Journal.

On Feb. 12, Barcott – a recent island transplant – will read from and discuss his work at Eagle Harbor Book Co.

The event starts at 7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. For more information, see www.eagleharborbooks.com.

Your image in bloom here

The Bainbridge Island Arts and Humanities Council has announced its call for poster art for the 21st annual Bainbridge in Bloom garden tour. Submissions must be received by 4 p.m. Feb. 23 at the BIAHC offices, 221 Winslow Way Suite 201.

Get submission guidelines by calling 842-7901 or emailing admin@artshum.org.