The Desert: Its Grace, its Gravity and Its Grandeur
Presented by David McChesney
Tuesday, June 2, 2015, 7:30 PM
San Bernardino County Museum, 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands
David Jesse McChesney, photographer, author and musician, is featured at the June 2 San Gorgonio Chapter meeting. He will show his visual/musical presentation, The Desert: Its Grace, its Gravity and its Grandeur. 
David has photographed 55 of America’s national parks over the past 39 years. He has served as the advanced photo instructor for the Desert Institute at Joshua Tree National Park. He is author of The Mojave Desert: Miles of Wonder and Muir Roots: At One with the Wild. The former was the basis for his last visual presentation at one of our chapter meetings three years ago.
His imagery is showcased at national parklands and wildlife refuges, world birding centers, travel centers, museums and a growing number of nature outlets around the country. He has been published around the globe and is the recipient of over fifty awards for his photographic work.
David captures the life and color of the Mojave Desert and uses his imagery to help celebrate and preserve the beauty and wildlife found there. He travels the country offering visual presentations, tours and lectures related to the desert, nature, wildlife and birdlife photography.
In 2012, McChesney travelled to the Washington D.C.to speak to members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee of behalf of the California Desert Protection Act.
In 2014, one of David’s images was chosen to represent Joshua Tree National Park in the National Park Gallery in the Interior Department building in Washington D.C.
At his home in Joshua Tree, David has developed a remarkable wildlife sanctuary, rich in flavor of the species' which visit the Joshua Tree National Park. His property was certified as a Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation and many of the desert species found on this site were, quite literally, photographed out of his windows at home. David's home has been visited by an Osprey and Lewis's woodpecker, which are rare migratory species in the Joshua Tree Highlands.
A harmonica-player extraordinaire, "Hurricane David" began belting the blues 40+ years ago and was influenced by performers such as Sonny Boy Williamson, Paul Butterfield and Junior Wells. He is a National Harmonica Champion, a title he won at the National Harmonica Festival held in Yellow Pine, Idaho. His harp and vocal stylings have evolved over the years and after winning more than 200 talent competitions earlier in his career.
David has been entertaining for the past 35+ years. His original-style, blues-oriented rock 'n' roll has been presented in over 2500 performances since 1976. "Hurricane" David has recently completed a music studio “Outmywindows” and enjoys the Joshua Tree atmosphere for both writing and recording.
