Sedona AZ (May 31, 2015) – So far, we have been lucky. But what do they say about luck….it is the intersection of preparation and hard work. In the case of the Slide Fire, the preparation and hard work is that of the firefighters, public safety personnel, forest and conservation crews who worked and continue to work to protect our community and our beloved Oak Creek Canyon.
Just a year ago nearly 1200 firefighters from across the country battled day and night for over two weeks to contain the Slide Fire, minimize the damage to the Coconino National Forest and lessen the potentially devastating after-effects. The Sedona Public Library is excited to host the spectacular Slide Fire Story: A Photographic Tribute to Oak Creek Canyon as a demonstration of our deep appreciation to those service professionals. The collection recently received rave reviews from thousands of visitors at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff during a four-month exhibition.
The 2014 Slide Fire was the largest in the history of the Coconino National Forest scorching nearly 25 square miles of the landscape. The fire displaced residents and businesses in Oak Creek Canyon, threatened neighborhoods in Flagstaff, filled our lungs with smoke and scarred the Canyon.
Before the last flame was even extinguished the Rotary Clubs of Sedona were working on a photography exhibit to honor the firefighters and support the post-fire recovery efforts. The exhibit was assembled from dozens of generous photographers who allowed the exhibition of their often breath-taking images of the fire, its impact and the resilience of our community. The Rotary Clubs’ exhibition of 80 photographs and story-boards reveal and recount the strategies, technologies and the hard work that fire crews employed to control the fury of the Slide Fire. The exhibit also gives the community and visitors a chance to reflect on the treasure that the Canyon represents to Sedona and Northern Arizona.
Lynette Jennings has served as the Artistic Director for the exhibition. Jennings, a highly regarded artist, is well known for her eighteen years with her own design and art show on the Discovery Channel. She also made regular appearances on iconic television including “The Today Show” and “Good Morning America.” Jennings was “taken aback” by the power of the photographs submitted to the exhibition. “Once I saw the images and talked with Sedona Fire District Chief, Kris Kazian, the incredible story of the firefight and the long-term significance to our community just came together. My immediate reaction was that everyone needs to see these images and appreciate the importance of protecting the Canyon.”
The Slide Fire Story will appear at the Sedona Public Library now through June 15.
For more information, contact David Simmer at 928-284-4444 or slidefirephotography@gmail.com.