RESUME
Bejat Alicia McCracken www.bejat.com
Environmental Artist/Photographer bejat@bejat.com
108 West Mimosa Circle, San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 619-2728
EDUCATION:
BFA in Studio Art, School of Fine Arts, University of Texas at Austin, 1997
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Finding Species Executive Director, July 2013 - Present
Takoma Park, MD; San Marcos, TX
•Maintain and manage projects, budgets, websites, social networks, volunteers and staff.
•Obtain funding, membership base and opportunities to share and develop ideas.
•Creatively catalogue, share, publish and maintain photographs
•Write annual reports, strategic plans and scope of work.
•Created and post weekly Finding Species US Facebook Page.
•Resurrected Geckoweb species identification website.
•Updated and keep current Finding Species website.
•Created complete Lightroom Catalogues for US and Ecuador photographs.
•Enlisted new board members.
•Engage new partners.
•Developed existing relationships with arboretums, Smithsonian, universities, colleges, organizations and individuals.
•Presentations of Finding Species work to arboretums, nature conservancies, nature centers and educational institutions.
Finding Species Photographer, 2010-present
Takoma Park, MD; San Marcos, TX
Working in Takoma Park, MD; Boston, MA; San Antonio, San Marcos and Houston, TX
•Leafsnap project photographer managing photographic databases in Adobe Lightroom (LR), found/initiated LR plugin to streamline database saving time and money, wrote photographic methodology, manage repairs and maintenance of equipment.
•Delivering quality photographs for Smithsonian deliveries; specimen photographs, iPhone photographs, photo-editing, creating delivery folders, backup photographic data and inventory.
•Discover and initiate relationship with arboretums and gardens in Texas region for FS work, locate trees, collect specimens and press.
•Photographed, edited and delivered 563 photographs in 2010 for the Smithsonian.
•Photographed 38 and edited 603 photographs in 2011 for Smithsonian deliveries.
•Photographed a backlog of Texas species in 2011.
•Photographed, edited and delivered 65 high-resolution images in early 2012 to fill in the gaps existing in the species listed for the northeastern US species.
•In Winter of 2012 and Spring of 2013, advance documentation of 37 tree species and completed 15 of these species. A total of 88 high-resolution images were delivered along with 465 iPhone photographs. These photographs concentrated on early flowering species and bark.
•Developed relationship with Arnold Arboretum, Smithsonian, and San Antonio Botanical Gardens.
Traveling Lecturer, 2002-Present
US and Ecuador
•Present work in Amazon as a PowerPoint presentation with paintings, photographs, and artifacts.
•Presentations at universites, grade schools, field stations, organizations, non-profits, businesses, arboretums, nature centers, individual donors, etc...
Painter, 2002-2003, summer 2004, summer 2006, 2008, March 2010,
Tiputini Biodiversity Research Station (TBS), Yasuni National Park, Ecuador
www.bejat.com, www.etsy.com/shop/bejat
•Painting in acrylic and watercolors exploring the beauty, balance and diversity of the rainforest.
•Creating intimate botanical studies in pastels, pencil and watercolor in the field that parallels my photography.
Photographer and Research Assistant, 2002-2003, summer 2004, summer 2006, 2008, March 2010
TADPOLE Organization, TBS and Catolica Research Station (Upper Amazon),
Yasuni National Park, Ecuador
www.tadpoleorg.org, canopyamphibianproject.blogspot.com, bejat.smugmug.com
•Managing and maintaining LR photographic database of over 75,000+ photographs depicting the Ecuadorian Amazon’s Yasuní National Park.
•Photographing amphibian and reptile species in the lab and field for database and book.
•Assisting with terrestrial field research locating amphibians and reptiles to collect for measurement and DNA samples, and recording environmental data in the field. Each specimen is released once data is recorded.
•Assisting with canopy field research as ground crew maintaining lines, obtaining environmental data, communicating with climber while photo and video documenting events.
•Assist various other researchers by photographing study specimen.
•Create innovative field practices as both research assistant and photographer.
•Audio recording of amphibians and capturing for necessary documentation.
•Collected, photographed and pressed all canopy tree specimens for deposit at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador.
•Logo design.
•Presentations for TADPOLE at TBS, Yasuni Research Station, Armand Bayou Nature Center, B Studio, Ed White Elementary, Regan High School, LBJ High School and Clear Lake High School.
ProTouch, 2006-2008
Austin, TX
•Surface refinishing and restoration; cultured marble, porcelain, fiberglass, metal and acrylic.
•Acquired new clients and projects making sales calls via phone and in person on job sites.
Painter, 2007
Austin, TX
•Commissioned large-scale acrylic paintings for private collector.
Tiputini Biodiversity Research Station Photographer and Designer, 2002-2003
University of San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
•Logo design featuring the golden-mantled tamarin monkey, endemic to Yasuni National Park. Design represents TBS through website, banners, publications, t-shirts, etc.
•200 photographs of flora and fauna of Tiputini Biodiversity Research Station for use on website, banners, publications, t-shirts, etc.
South American Explorers Club Muralist, 2003
To What End? (25’*12’), Quito Clubhouse, Quito, Ecuador
•After researching, painting and photographing in the Upper Ecuadorian Amazon Basin rainforest of Yasuni National Park with TADPOLE, an interior mural on biodiversity and colonization was inspired.
Hooter’s Owls Artist, 2001-present
Great Horned Hooter Owls (5’*10’), Texas Wings, Inc., Dallas, TX
•Painted six fiberglass Great Horned Owls for Hooters Restaurants Nationwide.
•Collaborated with a sculptor and fiberglass fabricator and worked as a liaison between the CEO of Hooters and the artists in all stages of the process.
Stag’s Head Artist, 2001
Stag’s Head (5’*7’*15’), Stag’s Head Pub, Houston, TX
•Painted Fiberglass stag’s head for the Stag’s Head Pub in downtown Houston.
•Collaborated with a sculptor and fiberglass fabricator and worked as a liaison between the owner and the artists in all stages of the process.
McDonalds Muralist, 2001-2002
Native Species of the Gulf of Mexico (many various sizes), McDonalds, Seabrook, TX
•Painted many murals filling the entire children’s playscape area with depictions of the underwater scenes of the local flower gardens coral reefs and inhabitants of the bay area. All species are labeled with numbers that corresponds to an identification chart.
Pelican Path Project Artist, 2001-2002
Pelicans (7’*5’*3’), Seabrook, TX
•Awarded 6 total pelicans adorned with native flora and fauna, predominately bird species, in order to educate viewers on diversity, habitat and bird migration along the Great Texas Birding Trail.
•Project to promote eco-tourism and to raise funds to enhance habitat and evoke environmental awareness.
•Pelicans displayed originally roadside in Seabrook, Texas. Now they have various permanent locations in Kemah, Dickinson and Seabrook, Texas. One is also located in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
The Gap Muralist, 1998
Le Bonheur de Vivre (20’*80’), The Gap, Austin, TX
•Apprenticed with master muralist, Doug Jaques, on a prominent wall located on the Drag in central Austin which is an ode to the impressionists through use of impressionistic styles of various genres.
TCA Photographer, 1999
Texas Commission on the Arts, Austin, TX
•Photographed slides of children’s art K-12 for press release, posters, publications, calendars and postcards.
Reflections Contest Judge and Photographer, 1996-1998
Texas PTA, Austin, TX
•Judged children’s art grades K-12 for statewide competition continuing to Nationals.
•Photographed winners for press release, posters, cards, calendars and publications.
Catalog Photographer, 1996-1998
Texas PTA, Austin, TX
•Photographed slides of PTA National merchandise for the Texas PTA catalog to be dispersed statewide.
Hickory Street Muralist, 1995
Hickory Street Bar and Grill (80’*9’), Austin, TX
•Apprenticed with master muralist, Doug Jaques, on a prominent wall located on the corner of 8th and Congress in downtown Austin depicting a garden scene with local Austinites picnicking, walking, and playing music.
MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE:
B Studio Owner/Manager, November 2003-2008
Bejat McCracken Environmental Art Studios, Austin, TX
www.bejat.com, www.etsy.com/shop/bejat, bejat.smugmug.com
•Open weekends with specialized environmental exhibits.
•Handle sales, clients, exhibits, benefits, artist’s weekend markets (spring, fall), bookkeeping, advertising, display, framing and packaging/shipping of 2D and 3D art.
Tiputini Biodiversity Research Station Manager, summer 2004
University of San Francisco de Quito, Yasuni National Park, Ecuador
•Educate researchers, students and visitors about the station and the park.
•Coordinate and expedite movements across remote territory for supplies and people dealing with indigenous peoples and oil company security personel in the area.
•Handling extreme emergencies like malfunctioning generators, inoperable radio phone, illnesses, relocating deadly snakes, etc.
•Sales of t-shirts, books and other fundraising techniques.
•Ordering supplies and research permits while keeping detailed records.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
Private Art Instruction, 2002-present
B Studio Houston, Austin and San Marcos, TX
•Working with children and adults in watercolor, acrylic, pastels, pencils, collage, mixed media, jewelry, clay, wire, sculpture, framing, photography, etc.
•Classes designed to meet individual students needs and talents.
•Assisting students with portfolios, university admissions and competitions.
•Organizing and hanging gallery exhibits.
Austin Independent School District Substitute Teacher, 2004-2006
AISD Austin, TX 78704
•Substituting throughout the CCISD system in grades k-12.
•K-5 art, ESL, special education, etc.
•6th-12th art, Spanish, history, etc.
Kids U Summer Science Camp Instructor, summer 2002, 2003
School of Education, University of Houston Clear Lake, Houston, TX
•Science camp instructor of kids grades 3rd-5th, teaching art and botany.
Clear Creek Independent School District Substitute Teacher, January-May 2002
CCISD Houston, TX 77058
•Substituting throughout the CCISD system in grades k-12.
•K-5 art, ESL, special education, etc.
•6th-12th art, Spanish, history, etc.
Artist in Residence Instructor, 2001-2002
Art Department, Ed White Elementary, Seabrook, TX
•Acquired funding and collaborated with children K-5 to produce a mural based on the native species of their natural watershed, labeled for educational purposes.
Field Instructor, 2002
4th Grade, Ed White Elementary, Seabrook, TX
•4th grade educational field trip to the Texas City Attwater Chicken Prairie Preserve for birding, seining, dip netting and looking through microscopes to identify and learn more about their native environment and the importance of our watersheds.
•K-5th grade environmental education in schoolyard habitat identifying species in habitat by referencing mural.
Ed White Muralist, 2000-2001
Woodland and Prairie Habitat (8’*13’), Wetland Habitat (8’*14’) Ed White Elementary, Seabrook, TX
•Painted 2 connecting walls with native flora and fauna which was inspired by 438 children’s drawings of native species. The children of Ed White, grades K-5, helped paint and learn about their native inhabitants in their art class throughout the course of the school year. This mural is also labeled with numbers corresponding to signage identifying the species.
ARTICLES/PUBLICATIONS:
Journal of Herpetology, “Evidence of Hybridization between Elaphe bairdi and Elaphe obsoleta
lindheimeri Including Comparative Population Genetics Inferred from Microsatellites and Mitochondrial DNA”, image, 2012
University of Texas at Austin, “Oil Exploration Would Endanger the Most Biodiverse Region in the
Western Hemisphere, Say Scientists”, images, October 2011
American Museum Novitates, “Systematics and Taxonomy of Great Striped-Faced Bats of the Genus
Vampyrodes Thomas, 1900 (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae)”, image, April 2011
Journal of Arachnology, “First record of paternal care in the family Stygnidae (Opiliones: Laniatores)”, image, March 2011
Best of 2010 Photography Anthology, “Hyla Bifurca”, image, 2010
Science, “The Fight for Yasuni”, image, November 2010
Science, “The Fight for Yasuni - Slideshow”, images, July 2010
Plant Talk, “Ecuador: Yasuni - the most biodiverse place on Earth?”, images, January 2010
New York University, “Scientists Identify Ecuador’s Yasuni National Park as one of the Most Biodiverse Places on Earth”, images, January 2011
Mongabay, “Photos: Park in Ecuador Likely Contains World’s Highest Biodiversity, but Threatened by Oil”, images, January 2010
Environmental News Service, “Thirst for Oil Imperils South America's Most Biodiverse Wilderness”, images, January 2010
The New York Times, “A Durable Yet Vulnerable Eden in Amazonia”, image, January 2010
National Wildlife Federation, “2009 Photo Contest Winners Gallery”, image, 2009
Save America’s Forests, “Oil and Gas Projects in the Western Amazon: Threats to Wilderness, Biodiversity and Indigenous Peoples”, images, 2008
Herpetological, “Bromeliad patch sampling protocol for canopy herpetofauna in neotropical forests”, images, 2008
Phyllomedusa-Journal of Neotropical Herpetology, “A new species of the Eleutherodactylus
lacrimosus assemblage (Anura: Leptodactylidae) from Yasuni National Park - Ecuadorian Amazon”, image, spring 2007
Herpetologica, “A new species of frog of the Eleutherodactylus lacrimosus assemblage (Leptodactylidae) from the western Amazon Basin, with comments on the utility of canopy surveys in lowland rainforest”, images, 2006
Phyllomedusa-Journal of Neotropical Herpetology, “Reproductive ecology and behavior of
Eleutherodactylus aureolineatus (Anura: Brachycephalidae) in the canopy of the Upper Amazon Basin”, image, fall 2006
Phyllomedusa-Journal of Neotropical Herpetology, “Species of frog of the Eleutherodactylus
lacrimosus assemblage (Leptodactylidae) from the western Amazon Basin, with comments on the utility of canopy surveys in lowland Rainforest”, images, summer 2006
Herpetological Review, “Bufo margaritifer – Geophagy”, image, spring 2006
Save America’s Forests, “Yasuni Rainforest Campaign”, images, 2005
South American Explorer Magazine, “Quito News”, spring 2003
Clean Texas Progress Report, “Partner Success Stories”, February 2002
The Old Seabrook District Association Pelican Path Project Handbook, “Bejat McCracken Bio”, April 2002
Baycomber, “Art and Film Festival”, Seabrook, TX, September 2001
Baycomber, “Pelican Path Project”, Seabrook, TX, May 2001, June 2001
Houston Chronicle, “Fryday uses every day to serve Seabrook”, Seabrook, TX, January 3, 2002
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission Clean Texas Update, “Clear Lake Plant
Helps Local School Realize Dream”, Austin, TX, May/June 2001
Clear Lake Citizen, “Ed White Mural Project”, Seabrook, TX, June 27, 2001
Tropical Attitude, “Pelican Path Project”, Seabrook, TX, spring 2001
FUNDING RECEIVED:
•Private donors for photo expeditions, 2002-Present.
•Assist writing proposals for various organizations (TADPOLE, SEACAP, BAYCAP and Finding Species) and for independent projects (murals, photo expeditions and education)
•Galveston Bay Estuary Program Grants (GBCPA) Watershed Stewardship and Wetland creation at Ed White Elementary, CCISD, awarded January 2001.
•University of Texas at Austin, Travel fellowship for Amazon, 1997
•University of Texas at Austin, Art Merit scholarship, 1997
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:
•Artist, Photographer, Secretary, Treasurer and Co-Founder, TADPOLE Organization, San Marcos, TX, 2000-present
•Pelican Path Project Board Member, Seabrook, TX, 2001-present
•BAYCAP, Citizens Advisor Panel, Seabrook, TX, 2000-2002
•SEACAP, Citizens Advisory Panel, Seabrook, TX, 2000-2002
•Environmental Steward, Ed White Environmental Committee Board Member, Seabrook, TX 2000-present
•TLV Park Board, Seabrook, TX, 2001
HONORS AND AWARDS:
•Naturescapes Juried Show, Wildlife Photography, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013
•Smithsonian, Picture of the Week, 2010
•National Wildlife Federation, Honorable Mention Wildlife Photography, 2009
•North American Association for Environmental Education/ Pierce Foundation, Second Place Wildlife Photography 2009
•Pelican Path Project, The Old Seabrook District Association, Seabrook, TX, May 2001-2002
•National Tour Association, Representative for the Bay Area, Astro's Field, Houston, TX, November 2001
•CB Designs, Artist of the Month, www.cbdesigns.net, March 2001
•Golden Web Award, www.bejat.com, 1999-present
•Texas Commission on the Arts, Artist in Residency Program, Austin, TX August 1999-present
•University of Texas Art Merit Award in painting, Austin, TX, Spring 1997
•University of Texas Travel Fellowship Award, Austin, TX, Spring 1997
•University of Texas Dean’s Scholar, Austin, TX, Fall 1996, Spring 1997
•Fine Arts Council, 1st place drawing, 1st place painting, Austin, TX, Fall 1995
GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
Butler Longhorn Museum, League City, TX 2011-present
San Marcos Center, San Marcos, TX, 2009, 2010, 2011
Bradford Street Art Gallery, Kemah, TX, 2000-2004
Sable Art Gallery, Galveston, TX, 2000
Teeks Art Gallery, Wimberley, TX, 1998-2001
Sable Art Gallery, Wimberley, TX, 1998
Huntington Art Gallery, Austin, TX, 1997
University of Texas Union Gallery, Austin, TX, 1996
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
Contemporary Works, Daily Juice, Austin, TX, 2009-2013
Collective Works, B Studio Artists’ Gallery, Austin, TX, 2002-2009
Yasuni, University of San Francisco de Quito Gallery, Quito, Ecuador, 2003
Amazon, Living Architecture Gallery, Austin, TX, 1999
Recent Works, University of Texas New Gallery, Austin, TX, 1997
Environmental Works, University of Texas Flood Gallery, Austin, TX, 1996
(67 unlisted alternative spaces)