Jan. 28 Lecture: 'Mary Foley Benson: Plants, Insect and Art'

Srdan Tunic, a UC Davis master's degree candidate in art history who researches the life history of noted scientific illustrator Mary Foley Benson (1905-1992), will discuss her work at a free virtual talk, hosted by the Pence Gallery, Davis, from 1 to 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 28.

The Zoom lecture, titled "Plants, Insects and Art: Mary Foley Benson's Scientific Illustrations from UC Davis Collections," is the first in the Pence Gallery's Art History Lecture Series.  The cost is free but a $10 donation is suggested. Registration is underway at https://bit.ly/3vZOV7t.

Tunic said he will explore her entomological and botanical art, her dynamic life, and her early U.S. Department of Agriculture career in Washington D.C., as well as her World War II piloting and her subsequent settling in California. 

UC Davis owns 114 pieces of Benson's work. Many are located in Briggs Hall, home of the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, and in the Bohart Museum of Entomology. 

Tunic drew large crowds at his two UC Davis presentations on Oct. 15: an Aggie Spirit Week talk at the Teaching and Learning Complex,  and a discussion of her work at the Bohart Museum of Entomology open house.

Tunic anticipates receiving his master's degree in June 2023. A freelance curator and researcher, he is a graduate of the University of Belgrade and University of the Arts in Belgrade, Serbia. He holds degrees in both art history and cultural management. 

"As a kid, I really wanted to become an entomologist or a biologist--if not a veterinarian--but I was awful in natural sciences," he said last October. "So I pursued my other passions--art and history. But these old desires really don't go away and mutate over time. I am still fascinated by insects and the natural world, and a few years ago wrote an article on environmental street art. After coming to Davis, the Bohart Museum was on my must-see list and where I met the director, Lynn Kimsey (UC Davis distinguished professor of entomology) who told me about a local artist who did entomological and botanical illustrations." 

"A few months later, my art history department granted me the opportunity to do an internship there and I have been diving deep into the life and work of Mary Foley Benson since the spring quarter of 2022. It's really like detective work! I have been surrounded by insects, books and artworks for this whole time--which sounds great in my world--and I am thankful for the whole Bohart Museum team for making this possible."

Tunic has been working independently and collaborating with various art and education initiatives since 2012. He is a co-founder of Trans-Cultural Dialogues (as part of Cultural Innovators Network), Kustosiranje/About and Around Curating, and Street Art Walks Belgrade. He collaborates with art professionals, researching fields such as contemporary art, curatorial practices, street art and graffiti, science fiction, art appropriation, cultural diversity, experiential learning, independent cultural scene and self-management. His work has been published in a number of magazines and journals. (See more about his work  at http://srdjantunic.wordpress.com/)

The Pence Gallery, located at 212 D St., lists upcoming talks and lectures on its website.