Janet K. Bardwell recently completed her MFA in Fibers at the University of Arizona. Her first experience with the inner workings of a natural history museum was taking care of a live insect zoo at the Denver Museum of Natural History as a teenager. This interest was maintained and expanded into a career in developing curricula and exhibits about insects and other arthropods. She is a mixed media installation and performance artist. Her artwork explores issues of gender, body, public engagement and issues of collecting. When Janet joined SASI in 1986, she was among its first Charter Members and through her involvement is considered a co-founder.
Charles Hedgcock is a Registered Biological Photographer and actively exhibits his photographs. He is a dedicated environmentalist and a natural history enthusiast, pursuing this passion with studies at the University of Arizona where he is also employed. He recently had a solo exhibition at the Los Angeles County Natural History Museum featuring his photographs of arthropods in conjunction with the Museum's live insect zoo. Chip's photos have appeared in SASI publications since 1988. LensWork Quarterly says: "Chip is to bugs what [Edward] Weston was to peppers!"
Philip Joachim earned his AAS in Welding Technology from Pima Community College. For the past 25 years he has held positions in industrial metal fabrication shops in the Tucson area gaining broad experience working with stainless steel, aluminum and titanium as well as carbon steel. Philip is AWS certified and accomplished in TIG, MIG, SMAW welding processes and currently works for T.A Caid Industries. He finds welding to be an avocation as well as a profession and has created fine metal furniture, custom kitchens, and specialty items. Philip has been a SASI Charter Member since 1986.
Michael Mayer is an illustrator and graphic designer who has worked in Tucson for nearly 27 years. Natural history illustration was central to his work at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum as well as to the interpretive exhibitry for Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, SeaWorld California and Tulsa Zoo. Recently he provided a set of detailed outdoor trailhead signs for Coronado National Forest which can be seen along the Mt. Lemmon Highway. Commercial clients include J&M Corporation, Travel Tools catalogs, City of Tucson, Friends of Kartchner Caverns State Park, Arizona Inn, Kenda Tires. Michael, a SASI Charter Member, has provided for much of SASI's graphic arts needs since 1986.
Steven J. Prchal founded the Sonoran Arthropod Studies Institute (SASI) in 1986 following a 16 year career at the Desert Museum. He is internationally known for his arthropod husbandry successes and leadership in exhibitry and education within the insect zoo/museum/butterfly house industry. A natural history writer, photographer and lecturer, he is widely published and serves on the boards of the North American Butterfly Association and Young Entomologists' Society. Steve is SASI's Director and currently maintains 150 ant colonies representing 22 species, some for more than 10 years.
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