Not many people have been lucky enough to see a beating heart through the transparent skin of a glass frog.
But this Earth Day, you could get a chance. The frog, which lives in the cloud forests of Nicaragua, is one of the creatures featured in "Endangered," Santa Cruz wildlife photographers Kennan and Karen Ward's 4th annual Earth Day presentation. The show is at 7 p.m. April 19 at the Rio Theatre in Santa Cruz.
Proceeds benefit the UCSC Recreation Department Scholarship Fund and the Conservation Alliance.
The evening's program consists of a film, still photographs, and a talk, said Kennan Ward, who earned a B.A. in environmental studies and wildlife biology from UCSC in 1980. The show covers rare species from seven continents, and ends with one of Ward's most beloved subjects: bears. Polar bears, to be more specific.
But the evening isn't meant to be a downer about the state of the environment, said Ward. If anything, in showing places on Earth that are changing radically, he aims for the opposite.
"I'm not a doom-and-gloom type," Ward said. "I want to encourage people and show the beauty and things that are out there, and let people judge for themselves. This is about embracing and enjoying the Earth. Not that we don't have responsibilities, but everyone will take something different out of this."
There's even some local footage in the show, with a segment on condors along the Big Sur coast.
"It's great for kids. It's a family show," said Ward. "It's for everyone to appreciate and go to and get a good feeling about. No guilt trips."
When asked how long it took to make the film, Ward said, "My lifetime."
"There are photos in there from 1977 'til now," he said.
Advance tickets are $14-$16. On the day of the show, all tickets are $2 more. The Recreation Department will host a special artists reception with wine and crepes after the show at the Crepe Place for Gold Circle ticket holders; the cost for the reception is $50 per person.
To view a film teaser, click here.
For more information or to purchase advance tickets, visit the Recreation Department web site.
Contact the author at gwenm@ucsc.edu.
