By: Tom Wickersham

When artist Ted McFall began working on a series of fossil paintings a decade ago, he knew at the time he was creating more than beautiful artwork. He set out to preserve some of history.

It was because of the unique nature of these bas-relief paintings that he decided to find an appropriately unique home for them. He found that home at Explorit Science Center.

McFall has donated to Explorit the series of 17 stunning acrylic paintings featuring animals that lived millions of years ago. "The fossil paintings are a fabulous example of the interface between art and science," says Executive Director, Suzanne Ullensvang.

To create these paintings, McFall drew on countless hours of research, years of painting and sculpting and a growing concern about environmental changes, specifically the human impact on nature.

Born in Loomis in 1909, growing up in the foothills and working in San Francisco and Napa County, McFall has been witness to countless environmental changes brought on by an increasing population. "I wanted the people to be aware of their history," said McFall.

These paintings, previously on display at Covell Gardens where McFall and his wife Vernice reside, were also the featured exhibition at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science in 1994.

Looking for a suitable place for a permanent display of the paintings, McFall decided that Explorit was a perfect match. "I wanted them to be in a place of use, to be a part of science study," said McFall.

Now you can see -- and touch -- the collection of Ted McFall's fossil paintings that permanently reside at Explorit Science Center.

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When was the last time you heard, "once in a blue moon"? Has it been that long? Can you remember where you were during the last blue moon?

Even if you can't remember the last blue moon, you'll have the chance to spot one this Sunday, January 31 (officially at 8:07 a.m.). A blue moon is the name given to the second full moon in a calendar month.

Since the moon cycle is just over 29.5 days, the occurrence of two full moons in a month doesn't happen very often. Blue moons occur, on average, every 2.75 years. The last blue moon was in July, 1996.

In 1999, there'll be a blue moon in January and in March with no full moon in February. Two blue moons in one year? Gosh, that only happens once in a blue moon.

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Mark your calendars now for a great chemistry show coming to Explorit. The Chemistry Club at UC Davis will be presenting their "Chemistry Magic Show" as part of Explorit's Meet the Scientist program on Saturday, February 6 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The Chemistry Club, best know for their annual show at Picnic Day, will present dramatic chemical reactions to demonstrate the properties of compounds and elements. Demonstrations will occur several times during the afternoon. In between, try your hand at the activities brought to you by the Chemistry Club. So, stop by to visit Explorit's exhibitionWhat's the Matter? Solids, Liquids and Gases and to see great chemistry demonstrations by the Chemistry Club.

For more information call Explorit or check out this Explorit column next week.

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Explorit Science Center is located at 3141 5th Street in East Davis. The current exhibition is What's the Matter? Solids, Liquids and Gases. Public hours are Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Sunday from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., and Tuesday through Friday from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. Regular admission is $3; members, teachers (with school ID) and children under 4 are free. For more information, visit Explorit's web site at

www.dcn.davis.ca.us/GO/EXPLORIT/ or call Explorit at (530) 756-0191.