Jim Blackburn & Isabelle Scurry Chapman

Jim Blackburn and Isabelle Scurry Chapman's new book, Birds: A Collection of Verse and Vision, is a collection of Scurry Chapman’s art and Blackburn’s poetry about birds and the relationship of humans and the natural system.

Isabelle Scurry Chapman has been creating Earth-centered art with a strong spiritual core for years.  In this book, her portraits of various birds of the Texas coastal region are featured along with Blackburn’s view of the coast from his kayak as well as from his perspective as an environmental lawyer.  Together, the poetry and the art focus the reader on the connection between humans and birds and the natural system.

Spirituality is a constant theme of the verse and the vision set out in the book.  The concept of the Earth as a church and all living things being related underpins the book and will be a featured part of the reading and discussion.  The book and the discussion will highlight connectuality, a term Blackburn created for a presentation at the Rothko Chapel in Houston.

Scurry Chapman paints out of her studio in Houston and has been awarded the Mid-America National Endowment for the Arts fellowship.  Two of her public art pieces are on display in downtown Houston.   Blackburn has won numerous awards for his work as an environmental lawyer, and teaches at Rice University where he heads the minor in sustainable development.  In 2004, Texas A&M Press published Blackburn’s The Book of Texas Bays.

Please join Brazos Bookstore in celebrating the release of Birds: A Collection of Verse and Vision with a reading and wine reception with the Jim Blackburn and Isabelle Scurry Chapman. Their lovely book is a work of art and Brazos is thrilled to make it available.