EXPLORER Fossils, Freeways and a Great Story to Tell By BARRY FRIEDMAN, EXPLORER Correspondent AAPG At the moment, you can imagine one <strong>of</strong> them in a suit, presiding over a board meeting at the Smithsonian, in his capacity as director <strong>of</strong> the National Museum <strong>of</strong> Natural Art, in Washington, D.C., while the other is in a t-shirt, drawing fish or manning his seafood kiosk in Ketchikan, Alaska. These two wrote a book together? The two wrote a book together. “Cruisin’ the Fossil Freeway: An Epoch Tale <strong>of</strong> a Scientist and an Artist on the Ultimate 5,000-mile Paleo Road Trio,” is exactly that – a book about a journey across the <strong>American</strong> West to explore the fossil record. And it’s not just any book – it’s an award-winning book, because the two authors, Kirk Johnson (he’s the suit guy) and Ray Troll (he’s painting fish) will receive the AAPG Geosciences in Johnson Troll the Media Award at this year’s AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition in Pittsburgh. The award is presented for notable journalistic achievement in any medium that contributes to public understanding <strong>of</strong> geology, energy resources or the technology <strong>of</strong> oil and gas exploration. “Ray and I first met in the early ’90s,” Johnson said. “I loved his art and he loved the fact that I was a paleontologist who liked art. We started collaborating in the mid- 1990s and eventually tumbled to the idea <strong>of</strong> a road trip book. “Ray had drawn a picture <strong>of</strong> an old Volvo and morphed it into an Evolvo,” Johnson continued. “We first thought about taking the road trip in a tricked-out Volvo, but soon realized that my big blue museum truck was the right vehicle.” Blending Art and Science As to that business <strong>of</strong> understanding, Johnson says it’s relatively easy to reach readers. Art by Ray Troll “Cruisin’ the Fossil Freeway” – it’s not just the name <strong>of</strong> the painting, it’s also the title <strong>of</strong> a book that earned Kirk Johnson and Ray Troll this year’s AAPG Geosciences in the Media Award. “I find that people learn much faster if they are laughing,” says the man recently named to head the 70-person research and collections division (including curators, registrars, librarians, archivists, conservators, technicians, administrators and assistants) at the Smithsonian and its $3.5 million annual budget. “Plus, there is a lot <strong>of</strong> funny stuff out there.” Which is where Troll comes in. Their book consists <strong>of</strong> 19-framed color prints by the artist, and five large-scale murals. Some are whimsical, some are stark, some are hysterical. All are informative. But the book, like the artist himself, doesn’t take itself all that seriously. If you needed further evidence <strong>of</strong> the former, note Troll’s website, where he poses next to a sign that reads, “Danger … Unstable.” Even better, he also has had a ratfish named after him (a New Zealand species called Hydrolagus trolli). “We’re still getting email from people who have read the book and have decided to take their own tours across the fossil west,” Johnson said. Why did it resonate so much? Well, to hear Simon Winchester, author <strong>of</strong> “The Pr<strong>of</strong>essor and the Madman” and “The Map that Changed the World,” tell it, the authors have a knack for story telling. “The two describe Jurassic better than Spielberg,” Winchester said. Johnson, ever modest, gives the credit to his partner. “The secret to the book is the amazing art <strong>of</strong> Alaskan artist Ray Troll,” he says. “Ray and I collaborated throughout the project. I wrote and photographed. Ray did all <strong>of</strong> the art and much <strong>of</strong> the photography as well. His art affects what I write and what I write affects his art,” he said. “The collaboration is really fun.” Troll, who earned an MFA in studio arts from Washington State University in 1981 and was awarded a gold medal for “distinction in the natural history arts” by the Academy <strong>of</strong> Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, is known for his mastery at blending art and science. This synergy, if you will, culminated in his traveling exhibit, See Fossil Freeway, page 62 52 MAY 2013 WWW.AAPG.ORG
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