By Denise Richardson
Staff Writer
ONEONTA _ Images from space,
including aerial views of Oneonta, will
offer more than a bird’s eye view of the
world starting Wednesday.
The Greater Oneonta
Historical Society will
present ``Earth from
Space,’’ a poster version of
the Smithsonian Institution’s
Traveling Exhibition
Service. The images
will be complemented
by ``Oneonta & Aerial Photography,’’
which will highlight the role of Sherman
Fairchild, organizers said.
GOHS will have an opening at the
Oneonta History Center, 183 Main St.
downtown, from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Achim Koeddermann, philosophy professor
at the State University College at
Oneonta, will speak at about 8 p.m. on
environmental ethics, organizers said.
Katherine Bashaw, GOHS Development
Committee member, said the show
and related activities are
to illustrate the history
of aerial photography,
show examples of how the
information is used and
raise awareness about the
impact the images have on
society and life.
The exhibit’s opening
on Earth Day ties in with topics illustrated
in the aerial images, Bashaw
said.
Research into the local ties with
Fairchild was exciting,
said Bashaw, a 2000 graduate
of the State University
College at Oneonta
who is in the graduate
museum-studies program
at Harvard University.
Fairchild was born in
Oneonta in 1896 and is
considered “the father
of aerial photography,”
a media release said.
Fairchild attained renown
as he built industries
in aviation, photographic
equipment and
semiconductors.
In 1929, Fairchild sold
his family home, which
is the Oneonta Masonic
Lodge, according to a display
board. He is buried
in Glenwood Cemetery in
Oneonta.
The Smithsonian Institution
Traveling Exhibition
Service, in partnership
with the U.S.
Geological Survey, has
provided a free poster
version of the popular
exhibition “Earth from
Space.” The 20-poster set
features detailed satellite
images of the planet, such
as the swirling arms of a
hurricane, a grid-like pattern
of Kansas farmland
and shadows cast by the
Great Pyramids, presenters
said.
The exhibit illustrates
how satellite imagery is
gathered and used to expand
mankind’s understanding
of life on Earth,
according to the release.
It also describes the remote-
sensing technology
that gathers the images
and satellites used to take
images.
The State University
College at Oneonta geography
department has
provided local aerial and
LANDSAT photographs,
courtesy of Professor
Paul Baumann of SUNY
Oneonta, an early leader
in geographic information
system technology.
The exhibition will
run at least through May
22, Bashaw said. In May,
GOHS will present 15-
minute Tuesday luncheon
talks about topics related
to the display at 12:30
p.m. May 5, 12 and 19, she
said. Bashaw said talks
are also being planned
for Saturdays, along with
a parent-and-child workshop
to make a kemel, a
measuring device.
The Oneonta History
Center is open from 10
a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays
and from noon to 3 p.m.
Tuesdays, for special
events or by appointment.
For more information,
call 432-0960.
____
If you have good news
you’d like to share, call
Managing Editor Cary
Brunswick at 432-1000 or
(800) 721-1000, ext. 217;
fax him at 432-5707; e-mail
him at cary@thedailystar.
com; or write to him at
P.O. Box 250, Oneonta, NY
13820.
