Speaker: Wendy Shattil

Program: Between 1936 and 2003, artists and scientists with the Denver Museum of Nature & Science worked together to create dioramas based on real places. Actual locations were carefully chosen to represent distinct ecosystems, with plants and animals set against painted backdrops that often feature recognizable geology. These scenes introduced viewers to birds, mammals, insects, and reptiles as they once lived in the wild.

Ninety years is a long time. What has changed since these dioramas were created and what has stayed the same? A small team of volunteer photographers has begun exploring the thirty dioramas depicting Colorado ecosystems and each diorama tells a different story.

In one scene, a bird species and an oak tree that were once abundant enough to be featured elements, now face very different circumstances. In another, ancient rock formations remain unchanged, while the surrounding wildlife has shifted dramatically under human encroachment. Every diorama reveals a new story about time, change, and our relationship with the natural world.