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Now through August 20, Florida Naturally features 34 works in color photography, painting and bronze sculpture. Artists who choose landscapes and wildlife as their subject matter have a very special affinity for nature. Through countless hours of observation and interaction, these artists have developed a concern and love of nature which they share in their art.

The Southern Florida ecosystem is the only one of its kind on earth. It holds tremendous beauty and wonder. The eight Collier County artists in this exhibition each provide a different view of Southern Florida’s illusive and natural wonders.

Artwork is on display at Physicians Regional Medical Center and helps to create a healing environment for patients, visitors and staff. As part of a partnership between the Naples Art Association at The von Liebig Art Center and Physicians Regional Medical Center, three to four exhibitions are installed at the Pine Ridge Road facility each year.

The Physicians Regional Medical Center, Pine Ridge is located at 6101 Pine Ridge Road in Naples. Gallery hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Information: The von Liebig Art Center 262-6517 ext. 106.

Craig Bone

Craig Bone was born in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1955. He studied Graphic Art at the University of Natal in South Africa returning to Zimbabwe in 1977 to perform National Service in the infantry. Bone began painting full time after he was severely wounded in the service.

On a trip to the Zambezi Valley Bone was inspired by the bush and wildlife of Zimbabwe. He decided to forgo other subjects and instead paint the nature and wildlife of Africa. His focus changed drastically, utilizing his skill in photography and sketches he made from the wild, Bone concentrated on producing extremely realistic glimpses of the exotic beauty of Africa. He went on to illustrate the book African Seasons, which is a visual record in paintings and drawings of one year’s observations of life in and around the Sapi Waterhole, deep within the Mana Pools National Park in the Zamezi Valley.

In more recent years, Bone has devoted much of his time to helping young artists develop their skills. He was intensely involved with teaching art at this children’s junior and senior high schools in rural Zimbabwe. His daughter Maxine is now an accomplished artist.

Since moving to Florida with his wife and children, Bone has taken up many local subjects. His detailed paintings of the Everglades are imbued with mystery and recall his adventures in the vast African bush country.

Paul Furman

Paul Furman has had successful careers in the men’s fashion industry and in teaching at the University of Miami, Coral Gables. He is currently a resident of Naples.

“The use of concrete in painting nature’s beautiful bird life has given a kind of organic element to their images. Importantly the random textures impart additional interest into the composition. These forms will remain aesthetically pleasant and allow the viewer’s imagination to wander endlessly thru the textured fields of color.”

Larry W. Richardson

Larry Richardson has photographed nature for the past 25 years. He is a founding member of the North American Nature Photography Association. Originally from California, Richardson began researching the Florida panther and Florida’s rare orchids after moving to Southwest Florida in the 1980s.

He is now very well acquainted with Florida’s flora and fauna and works as a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge in Naples. A popular wildlife expert, Richardson has made over 60 national television appearances on networks such as ABC, CBS, Animal Planet, Nickelodeon, TBS and has appeared overseas on Japanese, British and German television stations.

Richardson is passionate about photographing nature and strives for images that capture our attention. He hopes his photography will “serve as a dynamic catalyst for conservation stewardship.”

Jeff Ripple

Jeff Ripple, a fine art landscape photographer and natural history author, grew up in south Florida. He has devoted nearly half his life to exploring and documenting the natural wonders of Florida and the South. Ripple’s primary camera is a 4x5 field camera, which allows him to capture the subtleties of the natural landscape with amazing clarity. His photographic images reflect his devotion to protecting the natural environment, his fascination with the ephemeral play of light on textures and forms in the landscape, and a reverence for wild places. He hopes that through his work people will develop a new appreciation for the natural heritage of the South, particularly Florida.

“I choose to photograph when I sense there may be a moment when the light will reveal the spirit of the landscape. My purpose is to interpret and express that moment on film.

“I use small apertures to achieve tremendous depth of field, and the long exposures that result from the combination of slow film and low light levels often mark the passage of wind and water through the scene. My intention in printing is to convey truthfully and compassionately my impressions and emotions from the scene as exposed on the sheet of film. My photographs are limited to editions of 250 or fewer prints.”