One of the many perks of being a biology major is the amazing field trips we get to go on. I did an independent study course in Marine Biology, which means I assisted one of my favorite professors with one of his current classes in addition to doing my own research. The class went on a three day camping trip to Point Reyes, California to take advantage of the unusually low tide we get twice a year. I’d been looking forward to it all semester and it exceeded even my lofty expectations.
Let me tell you, watching a group of adults all lose themselves while wandering through tide pools is an experience I’d almost recommend over the actual tide pools. (Though honestly, take every opportunity available to explore the sea side.) We were all as giddy as children as we poked under kelp and (gently) caught critters.
Everyone was under the supervision of my professor and I, so no harm was brought to the local flora and fauna. (Though a few overly-adventurous students did get their fingers severely pinched by the natives.)
But to get to the point of today’s entry, before we even made it to the shore, we made a stop at the Bear Valley visitor center to go through their Earthquake trail. Imagine my surprise when I turned around in the center and found gorgeous felted pieces!
If you aren’t familiar with these critters, they’re called nudibranchs. They’re related the the snails and slugs in your garden, but are much prettier.
Later we found nearly ten live nudibranchs on various beaches and in various pools, but don’t expect the same results if you take a trip. Nudibranch sightings usually require a lot of dedication. We had the benefit of the unusually low tide, a professor with his PhD in marine biology, and a twenty-strong group of tide pool-prodding enthusiasts scattered in the deepest, coldest parts of the beaches. We were lucky enough to see three different species though, including the shag rug nudibranch (that’s its real name!), the opalescent nudibranch, and several members of an unknown species that could be Aeolidiella oliviae.
Seeing them live was a real treat. Last time I went out with the class, I only saw one, and it would have been the highlight of the day if we hadn’t also found an octopus trapped in one of the higher pools.
But as you know, we didn’t just see these guys in the flesh, we saw them in the felt! You should have heard me gushing about the gorgeous felt- and fiberwork that went into these beauties. Of course, my audience was a fairly uninterested marine biology class with no experience in fiber arts, but they nodded politely all the same.
Aren’t they amazing?!? The artist is Celeste Woo, and she used a combination of felting, knitting, and crochet along with embellishments to create these stunning pieces.
Celeste’s display was not the only art to be found in the Bear Valley visitor center. The nudibranchs were displayed alongside a traveling show called Piecing Together a Changing Planet, which focussed on the environmental impact we have on the Earth. It featured gorgeous pictorial quilts by Florida artists. Check out their Facebook page here.
Have you ever stumbled upon unexpected art? Let us know!
Thanks,
Lori
Celeste Woo says
I just saw this post with photos of my nudibranchs. Thank you so much for taking the time to look and photograph and comment. You were really lucky to have seen so many nudibranchs (the real ones) on your trip. How thrilling!