“On the Wing,” an exhibit of 80 exquisite photographs of birds by Nadia Valla, is on view at the Meeting House on Saturdays from 12-3. All of the photos are of birds that can be found in and around Rye.

 

By Bill Lawyer

 

“On the Wing,” an exhibit of 80 exquisite photographs of birds by Nadia Valla, is on view at the Meeting House on Saturdays from 12-3. All of the photos are of birds that can be found in and around Rye. The French-born photographer often captures her subjects from a kayak, where she can photograph wading birds and swimming ducks at eye level.

 

Valla sometimes prints her photos on watercolor paper and reworks them with pastels or watercolors. This technique transforms her already beautiful photos into works of art.

In the exhibit, the photographs are grouped by species to provide an educational experience, in addition to aesthetic enjoyment. Once visitors have enjoyed the exhibit they are encouraged to take a self-guided walk outdoors to see how many varieties they can spot. Visitors will be in for a special treat April 16, when Valla will speak at a program called “Through the Eyes of the Photographer.”

 

The Meeting House and Bird Homestead properties are a haven for more than 50 species of birds. These range from elegant white egrets to the brightly colored warblers that pass through during their migration.

 

Admission to the exhibit is free, but donations are gratefully accepted.

 

Unframed prints of Nadia Valla’s photographs can be ordered for $75 each. Proceeds will go toward restoration of the stained-glass windows in the Meeting House. The exhibit runs through June.