IRSC Foundation Celebrates Release
of Treasured Waters – The Indian River Lagoon
with Two Book Signing and Art Exhibits
Two book signing reception and art exhibits for “Treasured Waters –The Indian River Lagoon,” featuring stunning landscape paintings by Richard A. Kelly and descriptive text by author Camille S. Yates. Purchase original art and reproductions, along with limited-edition canvas bags and notecards. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, soda/beer/wine, and a chance to win a framed Kelly giclée. $75 per person, $100 per couple, includes one autographed book. Call (772) 462-4786.
IRSC Foundation Treasured Waters Book Signing, Nov. 3, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. IRSC Wolf High-Technology Center, Chastain Campus, 2400, S.E. Salerno Road, Stuart. RSVP by Oct. 27.
IRSC Foundation Treasured Waters Book Signing, Nov. 7, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. IRSC Richardson Center at the Mueller Campus, 6155 College Lane, Vero Beach. RSVP by Oct. 31.
Treasured Waters Featured in Vero Beach Magazine
News article from TC Palm
By Ellen Fischer
An artist and an ecologist join forces to create a colorful tribute to the Indian River Lagoon
Click to view the 8-page spread
Local Painter, Writer Collaborate on Indian River Lagoon Book
News article from TC Palm
By Bill DeYoung (Contact)
Friday, August 24, 2007
FORT PIERCE — When artist Rick Kelly went looking for a writer to collaborate on a book about the Indian River Lagoon, everyone directed him to Camille S. Yates.
"I was curator of the Manatee Center at the time," said Yates, a well-known ecologist and author. "He came into my office one day and said 'You know, Camille, I'm really worried about the lagoon. With the development that's happening, I'm not sure if it's going to be here for my grandkids to see.'"
Thus was born "Treasured Waters," a coffee-table book that will be published in early 2008 by Indian River Community College's Pioneer Press.
"The purpose of the book is to educate people about the lagoon, about its precious habitats, and hopefully they will be more appreciative of it, and learn to treat it with respect," Yates said.
"I'm not saying that a lot of people don't treat it with respect, but the purpose is to show people the value of the lagoon, both now and historically."
Kelly, who studied under Fort Pierce's legendary A.E. "Bean" Backus, has contributed more than 100 paintings to the book.
At first, he and Yates had a little trouble setting the ground rules for their project.
"It was so funny how we started out," Yates said. "He kept saying 'OK, I'm going to need some text, so I'll know what to paint.' And I was like 'No, I'm going to need to see your paintings so I'll know what to write.' Finally, we just compromised.
"We started going on these field trips out into the lagoon and finding different scenes. He wanted to depict all of the habitats, all of the main ecosystems. And he needed my knowledge and expertise to say, 'This is an ecosystem we need to cover.'"
Yates also issued a challenge, readily accepted by her collaborator. "Rick is a landscape painter, which is large-scale paintings, and I was asking him to do more small-scale paintings, something that's just an individual creature. A scrub jay, for example, or a redfish. And he's actually done really well with it."
Local Artist Receives Florida Senate Medallion of Excellence
TALLAHASSEE, FL, April 20, 2007 - Before the Florida Senate ended its regular session, Senate President, Ken Pruitt, took time from his busy schedule to award Vero Beach artist, Richard Kelly, the Florida Senate Medallion of Excellence for his outstanding Florida cultural and artistic contributions to the State of Florida. Kelly, who studied under Florida artist, A. E. Backus, has painted oil on canvas landscapes for the last 20 years. He has recently been working on paintings which will be displayed in a book called “Treasured Waters – the Indian River Lagoon.” Kelly says, “All of my paintings for the book show the unique habitats and wildlife of the Indian River Lagoon. I am honored that the President of the Florida Senate feels that my work contributes to an understanding of, not only art, but also of the importance of Florida’s Indian River Lagoon.” Kelly loaned six of the paintings to the Florida Senate where they are on display in the state capitol. 
The book, Treasured Waters – the Indian River Lagoon, is a collaboration between Kelly, ecologist and writer, Camille S. Yates, and Indian River Community College’s Pioneer River Press. Kelly is painting almost 100 new paintings for the book. To match the scenes depicted in the paintings, Yates describes the history and ecology of the lagoon. The Pioneer River Press publishes scholarly works of intellectual distinction and significance, works that will contribute to improving the quality of higher education, and works of general and regional interest and of lasting value. Proceeds from the sale of the book will support scholarships at Indian River Community College and Indian River Lagoon conservation and education efforts.
The book has been released! Click for more information and to order