Explorers Club Annual Dinner 2024
Apollo Astronaut Rusty Schweickart
To quote Dr Ayana Johnson, ‘This is what science looks like’ - this picture features 3 PhDs, as well as one of the most effective science communicators on earth today. From left to right: MFA Natalie Cash, Rae Wynn-Grant, PhD, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, Samuel Ramsey, PhD
The Awardees of this year's event, from left to right: Dr. Rita Colwell - The Explorers Medal, Rusty Schweickart - The Legendary Explorer Award, Nico Vincent & John Shears - The Citation of Merit, Frank Culbertson - The Buzz Aldrin Award, Callie Veelenturf - The New Explorer Award, Lynn Danaher - The Sweeney Medal, Dante Lauretta - The Citation of Merit, Daniel S Golden - The Buzz Aldrin Award
Antarctic Explorer and Environmental Advocate Grace Cordsen, the youngest woman to serve as the manager of an Antarctic camp
Explorers Club President Richard Garriott with children and space pup
Ballet Dancers celebrate the theme of this year's theme 'Cosmic Ballet'
Justin Fornal's outfit is a collage of vanishing textile traditions gathered from the field. The hat is created from Ugandan barkcloth (Ficus natalensis). The pants and vest are composed of Bogolanfini (mud-cloth) from Mali. The stripes on the vest are gut-cloth from Qaanaaq, Greenland made by Eqilana Sadorana Simigaq. The lapels are Kerria lacca dyed fish cloth from Arctic Canada made by Janey Chang. The epaulettes are Romanian amedou (mushroom cloth) made from Fomes fomentarius. Lastly, the snow goggles were made by Qaanaaq based carver Pullaq Odaaq (Kuka) from a slice of reindeer antler.
The Bicycle Nomad: Erick Cedeño is a cycling advocate who is known for his many projects advocating for the environmentally option of traveling by bike. He took a bicycle in his evening finest to the venue.
Laurie Marker, Director of the Cheetah Conservation Fund - one of the most impactful conservationists of our time.
A collection of future and current explorers from all sorts of backgrounds and achievements. My aim for this project has always been to portray more of the younger members doing fantastic work in far away places.
Astronaut Scott Kelly
Future Blue Origin Astronaut and activist Amanda Nguyen
Tandy Wallack, Member and Representative of Alaska North Pacific Chapter
Brooke Vahos, former Community Director of The Explorers Club
Rachel Rudwal, Denea Buckingham and Julianne Gauraon are part of a group of women explorers preparing a motorbike expedition across Mongolia to shine a light on the woman who embody Mongolia’s cultural heritage, showcasing traditional customs as they coalesce with the needs of the modern-day world.
Kari and Randy Hyer. Kari is a trained Biologist she’s had a lifelong passion for exploring nature and its relationships. Randy (Randall) calls himself a ‘medical explorer’. Kari's dress is made using the Nuno felting technique. The dress is akin to an individual snowflake or a hummingbird nest, yet shows universal elegance in a simple and natural way. Loose wool fibers are carefully interwoven into an open weave material, in this case hand dyed silk chiffon, to create a one of a kind fabric. I feel the love woven into those fibers by the creator Cindy Anne Ciarcia.
Vanessa Zhang with Blue Origin Astronaut and space entrepreneur Chris Boshuizen
The Menorca Shipwreck Project is a multi-year archaeological expedition starting with the excavation of a 300 year old wreck in Cala en Busquets. It is a collaboration between Explorers Club Members, Menorcan and Catalonian archaeologists, local museum staff and cultural heritage professionals.
Explorers who are part of the ‘Rights of Nature’ movement gather to plan their next steps in their push for legal protections and rights for ecosystems and the environment, as a solution in response to the effects of the climate and biodiversity crisis. In my studio, Callie Broaddus, Dr. Alexander More, Callie Veelenturf, Natalia Greene, and Nelly Forero.
The 'Seed Huntress', Sefra Alexandra, who focuses on rewilding efforts across the north-eastern United States.
With thanks to The Explorers Club, Elinchrom, Nanlite USA, Kubo Grip USA, Oliphant Studios, Bill & Sharyn Runyon, Kevin Murphy, Richard Garriott and everyone else that helped make this possible
A huge thank you to my spectacular team:
Emily Teague, Tiffany Chapman, Brian von Glahn, Tina Leu, Sequoyah Wildwyn-Dechter, Keoni Chun, Magnus Karlsson, DonnaMaria Jones, Brandi Nicole & Tushar Khandelwal (not pictured)
also featured in this photograph are Patricia Koo and Peter Domorak who are the other photographers covering Step and repeat and event photography at the event
