Phoenix Lantern Light - Zoo Atlanta - photo by Victoria Lansford

Shining a Light on Delight

One of the things I most cherish about where I live is the closeness of an exceptional zoo. Although walking it became problematic for me for a number of years (it’s literally uphill both ways), I was thrilled to visit recently without much pain, to see the beautiful animal lanterns at “Illuminights at the Zoo,” and visit the giant pandas, those amazing, native Atlantans, living here on borrowed time.

Normally, my walking along side my 6’1″ husband resembles a fast trotting teacup Chihuahua next to a slowly moving human dog handler at the Westminster Dog Show, as I endeavor to keep pace. This night, however, I was practically tripping the light fantastic, if you’ll forgive the pun, as I walked quickly uphill and ran downhill, dodging the many, truly adorable but openly coughing children (aka, precious, holiday-costumed petri dishes).

Flamingos at night - Zoo Atlanta - photo by Victoria Lansford — Real flamingos glowing in the dark

Lantern Lights - Zoo Atlanta - photo by Victoria Lansford — The zoo’s griffin – the mythological creatures come out at night!

The giant pandas have been at the zoo since the mid 1990s. You could say I moved into their neighborhood 25 years ago. We share a love of bamboo, though I look at mine rather than eat it.

Saying Goodbye to Pandas at Zoo Atlanta - photo by Victoria Lansford — Hoping this isn’t goodbye to the Giant Pandas at Zoo Atlanta who remain, for now, the last pandas in the U.S. who have not been sent to China

Our cosmos has always been the source of inspiration for my work, whether abstracted or realistic, serious, or whimsical, animal or vegetable, the minerals in my hands reflect my awe.